210 WILSON’S JOURNEY IN NORTH-WEST AUSTRALIA. [May 10, 1858. 
Twelfth Meeting , Monday , May 10 th, 1858. 
Colonel GEORGE EVEREST, Vice-President, in the Chair. 
Presentations. — Augustus F. Birch ; Edward Burmester ; John Lis- 
ter , m.d. ; James Ewing Matheson ; John H. Nix ; and Thomas G. 
Staveley , Esqrs ., were officially presented upon their election. 
Elections.— Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe ; the Rev. Charles John 
Armistead, Chaplain , R.N., Hong Kong ; and Thomas Br added. Magistrate 
of Penang ; Augustus H. Chetwode ; John Pole Mayo ; Charles Edward 
Mudie ; R. Banner Oakley ; L. E. R. Rees ; Conway M. Shipley ; and 
Joseph Somes , Esqrs., were elected Fellows. 
Exhibitions. — Major Papen’s Geological Map of Central Europe, by 
Ravenstein ; two Coloured Views, illustrating Bourne’s new System 
of Indian River Navigation ; and Views of Honduras, showing the 
Route of Inter-Oceanic Railways, were exhibited at the Meeting. 
Announcements. — The Chairman reminded the Fellows that the 
Anniversary of the Society would be held on Monday, the 24th 
instant, at the Society’s House, 15, Whitehall-place, at one p.m., 
when the Royal Medals would be presented to Captain Richard 
Collinson, r.n., c.b., and to Professor Alexander Dallas Bache, of 
the United States Coast-survey, by the President, Sir Roderick 
Murchison, who would then deliver the Annual Address on the 
Progress of Geography; and in the evening the usual Dinner would 
take place at the Freemasons’ Tavern, at seven o’clock, and those 
gentlemen, who purposed supporting Sir Roderick, were requested 
to apply at the Society’s Office for tickets as early as possible. 
The Papers read were — 
1. Notes on the Physical Geography of North-West Australia. By Mr. 
James S. Wilson, Geologist to the North Australian Expedition. 
Commuuicated by Sir Roderick I. Murchison. 
A continuous table-land runs parallel to the whole coast of North- 
Western and of Western Australia. It begins at the North-West 
horn of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and ends at Cape Leuwin, the 
South-West comer of the continent, and its summit averages 300 
miles from the sea, and 1600 feet of altitude above it. 
The rocks that compose this table-land belong to the carboniferous 
era, are marine deposits, and have undergone frequent submergencies 
since their first elevation. They consist of four strata: 1st, A red 
