444 



ply the place, appointed John Willimot, Esq., and William Clift, 

 Esq., scrutineers of tlie ballot. 



It was then resolved unanimously. That the thanks of the Society 

 be given to William John Hamilton, Esq., and Woodbine Parish, jun. 

 Esq., on retiring from the office of Secretary. 



A ballot was ne.Kt held, and the scrutineers reported that Robert 

 Hutton, Esq., and John Forbes Royle, M.D. F.L.S., were duly 

 elected. 



January4, 1837. — John Henry Philipps,Esq., of Williamston, Ha- 

 verford-West : Colonel the HonourableDawson Damer, Tilney Street; 

 Henry Morley, Esq., of the Grove, Camberwell; and William Benford 

 Nelson, Esq., Essex Street, Strand ; were elected Fellows of this 

 Society. 



A paper entitled, " Some Observations on the Elevation of the Strata 

 on the Coast of Chili," by Alexander Caldcleugh, Esq., F.G.S., &c., 

 wa.s first read. 



The author commences by stating, that previously to his return to 

 South America several circumstances induced him to suspend 

 his opinion as to the correctness of the details which had been 

 published of the effects of the earthquake of 1822. He thought that 

 the wreck in the Bay of Valparaiso, which had become accessible after 

 the earthquake, might have been thrown higher up by the heavy rollers, 

 and that rocks covered with testacea, which after the event were laid 

 dry, might likewise have been drifted. He also thought that the ac- 

 curacy of the observations might be doubted, because certain genera 

 of shells were stated to have been found adhering to the rocks in 

 Valparaiso Bay, which it was well known did not exist there j and 

 because there was a vagueness in some of the statements, as the 

 raising of the whole country from the foot of the Andes to far out at 

 sea. Since his return to South America, however, especially since 

 the earthquake of 1835, Mr. Caldcleugh has investigated the evi- 

 dences of change of level on the Chilian coast, and he states, in this 

 communication, his full conviction, that there have been many distinct 

 alterations in the relative level of land and sea. 



In detailing the results of his researches, he gives extracts from 

 all the historical and documentary evidence which he has been able 

 to consult, separating those proofs of accession of land which maybe 

 ascribed to the deposition of sedimentary matter, from those which 

 demonstrate a vertical movement. 



1. Accumulations of sedimentary matter. The Abate Molina states, 

 that the sea had long been gradually retiring, and even hazards the 

 observation, that in some places it had receded two, in others, espe- 

 cially near the mouth of rivers, six inches annually. Near the village 

 Talcahuano, Frezier says, that in 1712 ihe depth of water near the 

 shore was from five to six fathoms ; while Ulloa in 1744 gives five 

 fathoms, and Capt. Fitzroy has found the soundings near the same 

 spot to be only three and four fathoms. Frezier also states, that in 



