1831.] 
Proceedings of Societies. 
J25 
We abstain from offering any conjectures on the ultimate success of the experi- 
ment, since conjecture must be out of place, where we have the means of submit- 
ting the point to actual trial ; where there are thick strata of clays superposed on 
sand, and this again upon other clays or rocks of a consistent nature, and having an 
inclination from land of a higher level, it cannot be deemed impossible, that the in- 
filtration of rain water from the upper levels should extend under the alluvial clays 
of Bengal, so as to be finally reached by our auger. The question then seems to be, 
whether the expense likely to be incurred will prove out of proportion to the object 
sought ? It is an opinion, that as long as any progress downwards can be made by 
the rods, the work should, on no account, be given up; every foot gained, is, at any 
rate, a valuable acquisition to our knowledge of the stratification of the Calcutta al- 
luvium, and that alone would be sufficient warrant for our continuance until the diffi- 
culties encountered shall become insurmountable ; or until we may at length be so 
fortunate as to obtain the success anticipated, upon the commencement of the un- 
dertaking. 
(Signed) 
Calcutta , 9 th March, 1831. 
JAMES CALDER, 
J. W. FORBES, 
J. KYD, 
JAMES PRINSEP, 
Sub-Committee 
. of the Physi- 
cal Class. 
1 9 th August , 1830. 
VIII . — Proceedings of Societies. 
1. — Asiatic SociETy. 
Physical Class. 
Wednesday evening, the 20 th April. 
The Honorable Sir Edward Ryan, President, in the Chair. 
1. Specimens of the Coal from Gendah on the Neengtee, or Kuenduen River, 
were presented in the name of Mr. Assistant Surgeon D. Richardson, Madras 
Establishment, with his observations thereon ; the Coal was met with in the soft 
sandstone district, on the boundary of the Manipur territory — the river and vallies 
abound with detached masses ; the Coal frequently retains the form of the trees 
whence it was derived. The Burmans report it to be useless as a fuel, without the 
aid of wood to keep it ignited. 
2. Specimens of the Fossil Bones discovered in the neighbourhood of Prome, in 
Ava, were presented by Mr. Calder, accompanied with a notice on the subject of 
them, by Dr. Falconer 1 . 
3. A large square brick was transmitted by G. Swinton, Esq. on the part of 
Captain Davidson. It was dug up at Goalpara, in Assam, and is supposed to indicate 
the existence, at an early period, of some fortress on that spot, which tradition 
ascribes to Man Singh. 
4. A small fragment of clay sandstone, brought up by the borer in the Fort, 
from the depth of one hundred and sixty feet, and presented by Messrs. Ross and 
Strong, excited considerable interest, as it seemed to indicate that the rock had 
been finally reached. 
5. A paper was read, on the determination of the Azimuth in Trigonometrical 
Surveys, by Captain Everest. 
This paper embraces two objects of practical importance in Surveys, where 
great accuracy in the bearing of a station relatively to the meridian is requisite. 
The bearing is usually found by observation of the Azimuth of a circumpolar star, 
at its greatest elongation from the pole, to the east or west. The calculation of 
this Azimuth depends upon three elements the latitude of the place ; the North 
polar distance of the star ; and the time of observation. Supposing the first or 
second elements to be incorrectly known, at the time of making the calculations, 
and to be subsequently corrected, Captain E. deduces differential formulae for the 
1 This paper will appear in our next uumber ; the particulars are, therefore, omitted. 
