Royal Geological Society of Cor tvwall, 4-77 



with the elevation which the moon would produce in the ocean if 

 the earth and moon were both at rest. But the general motion of 

 the waters of the ocean does not countenance this theory, or allow 

 us to suppose that a fluid elevation resembling that of the equilibrium 

 spheroid follows the moon from east to west ; for the Pacific, the 

 largest ocean, has no tide in its central parts ; and at its eastern 

 shore, near Cape Horn, the tide wave runs from west to east, al- 

 though there is nothing to prevent its following its natural course. 



The new theory which was offered was this : — The tide of each 

 large ocean maybe considered as nearly independent of the tides of 

 other waters. The central area of each ocean is occupied by a lunar 

 wave, which oscillates, keeping time with the moon's returns, and 

 having its motion kept up by the moon's attraction acting at each 

 return. From the skirts of this oscillating central area, tides are 

 carried on all sides by free waves, the velocity of which depends 

 upon the depth and local circumstances of the sea ; and thus the 

 litoral tides may travel in any direction, while the oceanic tides near 

 the centre of the oscillating area may be small cr may vanish al- 

 together. 



This theory was confirmed by a reference to tide observations on 

 the eastern and western sides of the Pacific, and by mathematical 

 calculations tending to show that such a motion is mechanically 

 possible. It was remarked that single observations can be of small 

 use in deciding upon such a theory ; and that it can be judged of 

 only when we have observations numerous enough to enable us to 

 draw the sijstenis of cotidal lines which belong to the shores of the 

 Pacific. With this view it is very desirable to obtain numerous and 

 connected observations of the tides on the eastern shores of Austra- 

 lia, the Indian Archipelago, the Philippine Isles, the Loo Choo Isles, 

 and Japan. 



This theory to a certain extent coincides with the views respect- 

 ing the tides published by Capt. Fitz Roy in his appendix to die 

 voyages of the Adventure and Beagle. 



ROYAL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF CORNWALL. 



Twenty-sixth Annual Report of the Council. 



" In presenting their twenty-sixth Report, the Council have again 

 to express their regret that the Fifth Volume of the Society's Trans- 

 actions, which was jjromised at the last Meeting, has not yet been 

 completed. The delay is principally owing to the Editor, and to 

 circumstances over which he had no control. They, however, be- 

 lieve that it will be published early in the next year. 



" They have recently had to deplore the loss of two of the Found- 

 ers, and most munificent Members of the Society, in the death of 

 the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, and Sir John St. Aubyn, Bart., who 

 had frequentl}'^ filled the offices of Vice-Presidents. 



" During the past year the additions to the Museum have been 

 very considerable : among the most important contributions they 

 particularize a series of specimens principally from the neighbour- 

 hood of Hull, which contains also many from other localities, both 



