16 
The Second Meeting was on January 25th, when the 
discussion on Mr Ellis’s paper was resumed. 
He stated he believed that the formation in the course of 
slowly-flowing rivers of great horse-shoe curves round alluvial 
plains, and of double channels, leaving islands, as illustrated in 
the Severn near Gloucester, resulted from the entry of a 
tributary stream, and where the latter entered the main stream 
the tendency was to wear away the immediately surrounding 
bank, and thus open out a curve. Then the stream of the 
river, becoming gradually diverted, assisted in the formation of 
the curve by wearing away the bank. 
Mr Keeling agreed with Mr Ellis as to the Severn above 
Sharpness, but gave an instance at Lydney to the contrary. 
Professor Harker believed that curves originated from 
various causes, and referred to how an obstruction in a stream 
would divert its course. 
Mr Embrey had tested Mr Ellis’s theory in a voyage from 
the Upper Severn to Gloucester, and found it correct. 
Mr Taunton took exception to the view of Mr Ellis that 
the natural course of a river passing through alluvial plains 
was to run straight, as the stream was subject to the influence 
of gravitation, and its course influenced by the amount of 
friction to be overcome, and he could not accept Mr Ellis’s 
postulates. 
Mr Buckman shewed by a diagram that the effect of the 
meeting of two volumes of water would be felt on the opposite 
side to which the tributary entered, and gave some instances 
where the entry of a tributary did not produce a curve. 
Speaking from experience of rivers in India, General 
Babbage confirmed Mr Buckman’s observations. 
Dr Bond, the Rev. H. Winwood, and Mr Meredith also 
took part, and their views were generally adverse to Mr Ellis, 
who shortly replied. 
In referring to some authorities on the subject of rivers, I 
find Dr Evans quoting from Sir Charles Lyell—10th edition of 
Principles of Geology, Vol. I. page 354— 
