1825.] 
waters on the spot. The subjects of chief 
interest, with regard to the shell marl, are, 
its slow growth, the small proportion of 
full-grown shells which are found in it in 
Forfarshire, the greater rapidity of its 
growth in the vicinity of springs, its abun- 
dance in a part of Scotland in which lime- 
stone is very rare, and its scarcity in the 
calcareous districts of England. 
MEDICO-BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 
At a meeting of this Society holden on 
Friday the 14th Jan., the Professor de- 
livered a lecture upon a new essential oil 
lately introduced from South America, 
called the Essential Oil of Laurel. Nei- 
ther its chemical components nor its medi- 
cinal properties have yet been ascertained. 
The Indians hold it in high estimation, for 
its medicinal properties, using it in various 
cases; applying it sometimes internally, 
and at others externally. The anniversary 
meeting of the society was held on Mon- 
day the 17th, when the following officers 
were elected for the ensuing year: Presi- 
dent, Robert Bree, M.D., F.R.S.—Vice- 
Presidents, John Ayrton Paris, M. D., 
F.R.S.; Edward Thomas Monro, M.D. ; 
Joshua Brookes, Esq., F.R.S. ; William 
Thomas Brande, Esq., Sec. R.S.; Sir 
James M‘Gregor, M.D., F. R.S.; Sir 
Alexander Crichton, M.D., F.R.S.—Di- 
rector, John Frost, Esq.—Treasurer, Wil- 
liam Newman, Esq.—Secretary, Richard 
Morris, Esq.— Honorary Librarian, Dr. 
Edward Thomas Monro, (V.P.)— Profes- 
sor of Botany, John Frost, Esq., (Diree- 
tor.) — Curator of the Collection, Richard 
Morris, Esq., (Secretary. )—Cowncil, The 
President, Vice- Presidents, and other 
Officers ; together with Dr. John Elliot- 
son; Thomas Jones, Esq.; William Yar- 
rell, Esq. ; Thomas Gibbs, Esq. ; Henry 
Tatham, jun., Esq. 
ROYAL INSTITUTION OF CORNWALL. 
At the sixth annual meeting of this As- 
sociation; held at Truro, August 27, 1824, 
Sir C. Hawkins, Bart., M.P., in the chair; 
the Right Hon. Edward Viscount Ex- 
mouth was re-elected President ; J. H. Vi- 
vian, H. Willyams, J. Williams, jun., T. 
Daniel], and W. Paul, Esqrs., were elected 
Vice- Presidents for the ensuing year, who 
with the following members form the Coun- 
cil: Dr. Taunton, Captain Forster, Mr. Chil- 
cott; Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Turner, Mr. S. 
Moyle. Secretaries, Mr. W. M. Tweedy 
and Mr. J. T. Nankivell. Dr. Potts was 
re-elected Lecturer on Chemistry and 
Experimental Philosophy. The Report 
stated that the donations to the museum 
during the past year have, in number and 
importance, equalled those in any year 
since the first; and that the state of the 
museum shewed that some progress had 
been made towards the attainment of those 
objects for which the society was originally 
formed. That at a Special General Meet- 
Mowtury Mac. No. 407. 
Proceedings of Learned Societies. 
153 
ing, in June last, it was resolved to enlarce 
the sphere of the Institution, by admitting 
gentlemen residing at a distance, or officers 
of his majesty’s service, who may have 
favoured the society with valuable literary 
or scientific communications, or donations 
to the museum, or from whom such assist- 
ance may be expected, as corresponding 
members. — They are admitted to the 
rooms, and to all lectures given by the 
society. 
ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN 
AND IRELAND. 
January 15th, 1825.—The society met at 
the usual hour (3 o’clock) ; the chair was 
taken by H. T. Colebrooke, Esq., the Di- 
rector. The following gentlemen, having 
been elected members of the society, were 
respectively introduced and admitted: Ma- 
jor Mitchell and William Farrer, Esq. 
The minutes of the last meeting were read 
and confirmed. Several works were pre- 
sented to the Society, including the Tran- 
sactions of the Horticultural Society, and 
those of the Astronomical Society. The Se- 
cretary (Dr. Noehden) then resumed the 
reading of a paper on the course of the 
Brahmaputra river, and its supposed iden- 
tity with the river of Thibet, which had 
been commenced at the last meeting: the 
conclusion of the paper was deferred till 
the next meeting. The following persons 
were balloted for, and elected members of 
the society: Rev. James Bryce, D.D., of 
Calcutta ; John Hicks, Esq. ; Henry 
Tuffnell, Esq. Mons. V. Denon, fof Paris, 
was balloted for, and elected a foreign 
member of the society. Adjourned till 
February 5th. 
MADRAS LITERARY SOCIETY. 
At an annual general meeting held at 
the College on Saturday the Ist May 1824, it 
was stated that the Honourable Sir Charles 
Edward Grey, President, Major Macdonald, 
Archdeacon Vaughan, and Mr. Gwatkin, 
being the senior three members of the 
Committee of Managers, went out by ro- 
tation; and Messrs, Oliver and Heath 
being about to leave the Presidency, Mr. 
Fullerton, Mr. Hill, Captain Napier, Dr. 
Aiken, and Dr. M‘Leod, should be in- 
vited to fill up the vacancies in the Com- 
mittee. The Secretary presented to the 
meeting, in the name of Captain Cullen, a 
further collection of rock specimens, in ex- 
cellent preservation. Captain Cullen was 
nominated an Honorary Member of the 
Society. The Secretary intimated that 
there were several stone images of Hindoo , 
deities, &c., ‘in the garden, formerly the 
property of the late Colonel M‘Kenzie, 
which the agents of Mrs. M‘Kenzie offered 
to the society ;—which were thankfully ac- 
cepted. 
SOCIETE ASIATIQUE DE PARIS. 
Sitting of October 4th.—M. Garcin an- 
x nounced, 
