Astrono7nical and Meteorological Societies. 465 



of the Persian Gulf, to a great extent, consist of a calcareous 

 formation, which, it is ascertained, in many parts continues far 

 inland. In a part of this formation, his route from Bushire 

 commenced ; between which place and Shiraz, the hills are 

 composed of sulphates and carbonates of lime, and the strata 

 often much disturbed. Through a large tract of this country, 

 carbonate of lime is intermixed with the gypsum; but in parts 

 rocks of pure gypsum occur, and very frequently accompanied 

 by salt. Streams and lakes of salt abound, and there is a con- 

 siderable one of the latter at Shiraz. Proceeding northward, 

 the route from Shiraz to Ispahan, a distance of about 250 

 miles, lies over an elevated country, the nature of which is si- 

 milar to that before described, but the carbonate of lime pre- 

 dominates. Between the village of Gendoo and the town of Yes- 

 dikhaust Mr. Fraser found clay slate, and a conglomerate rock 

 inclosing pebbles of quartz, greenstone and limestone cemented 

 by carbonate of lime ; strata of this aggregate rock alternate 

 with a iiner sandstone. The mountains between Ispahan and 

 Teheran are of a character very different from the preceding; 

 among them clay slate was observed, and the highest region, 

 which reaches a great elevation, coiisists of granitic rocks. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



Dec. 12. — Two papers were read this evening: the first 

 being a very elaborate and able Preface written by the Foreign 

 Secretary, J. F. W. Herschel, Esq., to accompany and explain 

 a series of Tables for calculating the Places of the principal 

 Fixed Stars, which have been computed by order of the So- 

 ciety, and will be printed in the forthcoming volume ot its 

 Memoirs;— and, 2dly, A Supplement to a former paper 

 read before the Society on the Theory of Astronomical In- 

 struments, by Benjamin Gom pertz, Esq. F.R.S. and M.A.S. 



METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



At the second Meeting of this Society, held on Wednesday, 

 Nov. 12, as mentioned in our last Number, the following gen- 

 tlemen were chosen to fill the offices of President and 

 Treasurer, and to form the Council. ,, ^ c- o 



President.— Geo. Birkbeck, M.D. M. Ast. Soc. M.G.S.,&c. 



Treasurer.— Henry Clutterbuck, M.D. 



CowmL-^ohn Bostock, M.D. F.R.S. ; J. F. Darnell, Esq. 

 F.R.S; William Shearman, M.D. ; Thomas ^orster, M.15. 

 F L.S.; C. J. Roberts, M.D.; Luke Howard, Esci. l-.K.b.; 

 Richard Taylor, F.L.S. ; E. W. Brayley, Jun. Esq. 



A Sketch of a Code of Laws for the regulation oj the So- 

 ciety having been read, a Committee was appointed to revise 

 and amend the same; and it will be submitted or adoption 

 to a General Meeting of the Society, which will be held on 

 Vol. 62. No. fJ08. Dec. 1823. 3 N Wea- 



