Proceedings. 



General Meeting, November 13th, 1888. 



Professor ARTHUR SCHUSTER, F.R.S., Vice-President, in 

 the Chair. 



Dr. G. H. Bailey, of Owens College, and Mr. A. C. 

 Adams, of the Hulme Grammar School, were elected 

 ordinary members. 



Ordinary Meeting, November 13th, 1888. 



Professor ARTHUR SCHUSTER, F.R.S., Vice-President, in 

 the Chair. 



Professor W. C. WILLIAMSON, LL.D., F.R.S., opened a 

 discussion on " The Permanence of Oceanic Basins," by 

 pointing out the fundamental ideas of some modern geolo- 

 gists, viz., that our large oceanic areas had been much like 

 what they now are, throughout all geological times ; that 

 our continents were chiefly built up by the accumulation of 

 shore deposits, formed in what were virtually shallow Waters. 

 He was not prepared to accept these as postulates. In the 

 first instance there could be no doubt that the hills and 

 hollows of the earth's surface were primarily the result of 

 the cooling of its crust, and as a result of that cooling,, 

 shrinkage in the size of the sphere : not being elastic, such 

 shrinkage must have produced ridges and furrows on various, 

 scales of magnitude. These changes, being accompanied 

 by a corresponding reduction of the temperature of the 

 earth's atmosphere, in which much heated vapour must 

 have been held in suspension, would be followed by the 

 C 



