the anniversary meeting, may 28th, 1888

The Anniversary Meeting, May 28th, 1888Source: Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography,New Monthly Series, Vol. 10, No. 7 (Jul., 1888), pp. 459-471Published by: Wiley on behalf of The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of BritishGeographers)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1801457 .

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THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING. 459

also in other regions large forests of pine, black spruce, fir, yellow and white birch, &c.

Now I submit that, in the face of such conclusive evidence, the assertion of General Dashwood that " the fine agricultural land which was sometimes described, was rocks and bog, and the timber scrub," is unwarranted. The General only knows it as a deer-shooting country, and in pursuit of his favourite sport he naturally sought the high bare ridges where alone the caribou are to be found, but he never entered the fertile wooded tracts which are described in Mr. Murray's reports.

M. Harvey. To the Editor of the ?R. G. S. Monthly Proceedings.'

THE ANNIVEKSAEY MEETING, May 28th, 1888.

General R. Strachey, r.e., f.r.s., President, in the Chair.

Elections.? Wm. Arthur Addinsell, Esq.; James Edward Ashton, Esq.; John W. Patten, .Esq.j Augustus Cooper, Esq.; Alfred Thos. Corrie, Esq., r.n. ; Geo. Langhorne, Esq.; By. Wm. Lowe, Esq.; Rev. W. T. MlCormich; George Fras. Mewburn, Esq.; Geo. Ernest Morrison, Esq.; Fleming Mant Sandwith, Esq.; Percy Simpson, Esq.; Daniel Spencer, Esq.; Major C. Yate (Bombay Staff Corps).

The Regulations for the procedure at Anniversary Meetings, and the minutes of last year's Meeting were read by the Secretary, Mr. C. R. Markham, c.b., f.r.s.

The Chairman then appointed Mr. Michael Beazeley and Mr. J. S. Dyason as Scrutineers of the ballot about to take place.

Mr. Clements R. Markham (Secretary) read the Annual Report of the Council, as follows:?

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.

The Council have the pleasure of submitting to the Fellows the following Report on the financial and general condition of the Society:?

Members.?The number of Fellows elected during the year (ending April 30th, 1888) was 168, besides three Honorary Corresponding Members. In the previous year, 1886-87, the total elections amounted to 206, and in 1885-86 the number was 173. Our losses have been, by death 72 (besides 3 Honorary Corresponding Mem? bers), by resignation 51, and by removal on account of arrears of subscription 74; making a decrease for the year of 29. In the year 1886-87 there was an increase of 25 ; in 1885-86 an increase of 16. The total number of Fellows on the list

(exciusive of Honorary Members) on the lst May was 3391. Finance.?As will be seen by the annexed Balance Sheet, the total net income for

the financial year ending 31st December, 1887 (i. e. exciusive of balance in hand), was 8007?. 16s. Sd., of which 5861?. consisted of entrance fees and subscriptions of Fellows. In the previous year, 1886, the total net income was 7968?. 9s., and the amount of subscriptions, &c, 5859?.; in 1885 the two totals were 7740?. 11s. 5d., and 5625?. respectively.

The net expenditure for the past year (i. e. exciusive of balance in hand) was 8493?. 10s. 3d. The net expenditure in 1886 was 7767?. 18s. 0\d.-, in 1885, 8053?. 12s. ?hd.

The Finance Committee of the Council have held, as usual, Monthly Meetings during the year, supervising the accounts of the Society. The Annual Audit was held on the 22nd of March last, the Auditors being, on behalf of the Council, Sir Rawson W, Rawson and Sir Henry Barkly, and on behalf of the Fellows at large,



460 THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING.

E. 0. Tudor, Esq., and J. Duncan Thomson, Esq. The cordial thanks of the Council and Fellows are due to these gentlemen for having freely devoted their valuable time to this important task. At the end of their labours the Auditors drew up the following report to the Council:?

Auditors' Report.?" The Auditors appointed for the examination of the Accounts of the Royal Geographical Society for the year ending 31st December, 1887, have examined the Balance Sheet submitted, and have compared it with the Account Books and vouchers of the Society, and have found the same to be correctly stated and sufBciently vouched. They have pleasure in renewing their testimony as to the efficiency and accuracy of the Accountant.

" The investments amount to the same sum as last year, viz. 19,568?. 12s. 4c?. It scarcely appears necessary to repeat annually the details of these investments, but the following may be a convenient form in which to state them in the present and future years:?

? s. d. Davis bequest. 1800 0. 0 Murchison bequest. 1000 0 0 Gill Memorial. 1028 5 6 Peek Grant. .. .. 1000 0 0 Back bequest. 561 0 8 Trevelyan bequest. 510 4 0 Miscellaneous.13,669 2 2

?19,568 12 4

" The Balance Sheet exhibits satisfactory results, inasmuch as the receipts of the year have slightly exceeded those of 1886, and have sufficed to provide, as anticipated by the Auditors of last year, for the contribution of 1000?. to the Emin Bey Reiief Expedition, as well as for sundry other special disbursements incidental to the service of the year. The Balance, however, of 525?. with which the year began, has been nearly exhausted.

" A comparison of the last three years shows the following result:? Ordinary Total

Years. Receipts. Expenditure. ? ? ? 1885 7741 8055 Excess .. 314 1886 7968 7768 Surplus .. 200 1887 8008 8493 Excess - .. 485

Ci This comparison shows that the ordinary expenditure of the last three years has been well within the. ordinary receipts, for the expenditure of 1885 included a sum of 815?. granted in aid of explorations. " The arrears of subscriptions, valued last year at 440?., have increased this year to 470?.

" The total assets of the Society, valued last year at 40,533?. 15s. 6|c?., are now estimated at 40,078?. 7s. 0\d., the decrease being accounted for by the reduction in the balance at the close of the year.

(Signed) Rawson W. Rawson, Henry Baekly, J. D. Thomson, E. O. Tudor, " March 22nd, 1888."

\ Auditors.

The following Balance Sheet and Statement, showing the Receipts and Expendi? ture of the Society from the year 1848 up to the present date, are annexed to the Report of the Auditors:?




BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR 1887. Expenditure.

188?. Balance in Bankers' \ hands 31st Dec. 1886.. 5

Do. Aceountant's do.

Subscriptions ??? For the current year .. Paid in advance .. Arrears.

Entrance Fees .. .. Life Compo&itions.. .. Payments made in error Parliamentary Grant .. Royal Premium .. .. Rent of Shop and Vaults Publicationst sale of .. Advertisements in 'Pro-}

cedings* .. ,. ..j Loan of Diagrams.. .. Payments for Scientific) Instruction.5 Sale of Ticketsfor Soiree \ at South Kensington .. 3*

Dividends: North-Eastern Railway } 4 per Cent. Debenture V Stock.. .. 1000Z. ) Great Indian Peninsula ) Eailway 5 per Cent. \ Stock .. 40001. ) Great Western Railway \ 4? per Cent Stock \ [DavisBequestjlSOOS.) London and North-1 Western Railway ( 4 per Cent. Deben- > ture Stock [Murchi-I son Bequest] 1000Z.J

Caledonian Railway) 4 per Cent. Preference > Stock .. 2000Z. }

Norwegian 4 per Cent. Bonds .. 1000Z.

New South Wales 3i per Cent. Stock [Gi Memorial]

1028Z. 5s. 6d. India Stock .. 1000?. India 3* per Cent. De- \ bentures .. 1000J. j Consols 3669?. 2s. 2d.

? [Peek Fund]) 1000Z. i" ? [Back Bequest]) 5611. Qs. 8d.j ? [Trevelyan Be?

quest] 5101. 4s. Od. Interest on 1000J. de- positedfrom Feb. to October 5

00U GHlll

U.)

**. ut*. j 001. de- ) Feb. 23 >

38 14 2

? s. d. 1881 House.?- Taxes and Insurance. Repairs and Furniture

525 8 8? Coals, Gas, and Water Miscellaneous ..

Office: ? Salaries. Stationery and Printing Miscellaneous ..

Library :? Salaries. Purchase of Books .. Binding . Miscellaneous ., ..

Map-Room:? Salaries . Purchase of Maps and) Diagrams.) Instruments and Re-1 pairs.j New Map-cases ..

Miscellaneous .. ..

Ifap-Dramng-room:? Salaries . Drawing Materials Miscellaneous ..

Meetings:? Evening Meetings .. Soiree at South Ken-> sington .5 Miscellaneous ..

Medals and other awards Scientific Purposes:? Scientific Instruction.. Expenses on account of ) Geographical Exhi- V bition .) Grant to Oxford Uni- / versity .5 Grant to Oxford Uni-) versity Extension .. 5 Grant to Mr. Mackinder

Miscellaneous .. Publications :?? Printing Maps and Illustrations Postage of * Pro? ceedings

Payments to Con- tributors, Transla- tions, &c...

Editor of Publications Printing Vol. 2, Part ) 1, Supplementary \ Papers ..3 Maps for Supplemen-^ tary Paper& .. .. j Miscellaneous .. ..

? s. d.

984 12 251 15 116 11

310 0 61 14 87 8 40 6

435 0 83 10 24 15 6 97 18 83 14

360 0 11 1 5 0

163 19 306 14 32 2

82 15 121 6

60 0 0 50 0 5 10

n->

803 10 0 ?| 8533 4 llf

Payments in error returned Expedition:? Grant towards Emin)

Bey Expeditiun .. j Expenses on account East African Expe< dition .t

Balance in Bankers' ( hands 31st Dec. 1887.. ) Do. Aceountant's do.

nt )

1169 7 646 13

204 0 200 0 96 13

79 18 8 10

1000 0

58 2

27 2 12 12

? S. d.

664 6 1

1412 18 2|

724 19 7*

376 1 8

502 16 6 136 10 6

2685 13 8 38 0 0

39 14 8i 8533 4 Ili

REGINALD T. COCKS, Treasurer.

Audited and found correct, 22nd March, 1888. RAWSON W. RAWSON, 1 HENRY BARKLY, J. i>. THOMSON, E. O. TUDOR,

Auditors.




Statement showing the Receipts and Expenditure of the Society from the Year 1848 to the 31st Dee, 1887.

* This sum includes the Special Parliamentary Grant transferred to the Cameron Expedition Fund in February, 1877.

f This amount includes the payment of two sums of 500?. each, contributed to the African Exploration Fund in this and the previous year. % This sum includes the payment of 102?. 8s. to the African Exploration Fund; also 714?. 9s. ld., the flnal payment for Cameron Expedition Fund.

STATEMENT OF ASSETS?31st December, 1887. ?. s. d,

Freehold House, Fittings, and Furniture, estimated (ex-1 clusive of Map Collections and Library insured forl .. .. 20,000 0 0 10,0002.). .)

Investments (amounts of Stock), as detailed in the above\ in wo 10 A Eeport of the Auditors .J

?? -.19,568 12 4 Arrears due on December 31, 1887, ?1183 0 0,

Estimated at .. .. t. 470 0 0 Balance at Bank..?27 2 0

? in Accountant's hands. . 12 12 8 J - 39 14 8?

Total ?40,078 7 0ft

Publications.?The monthly * Proceedings' have been issued with regularity throughout the year; the twelve numbers for 1887 forming a volume of 826




pages, illustrated by 18 maps and 3 pictorial diagrams. The total cost of the edition of 5000 copies (including 280?. 10s. 2d. for free delivery to Fellows and Institutions) was 2096?. 10s. Sd. From this is to be deducted the amount of 456?. 6s. Id. received from sale of copies to the public and from advertisements. One part of the ' Supplementary Papers' (Vol. II. Part I.) was also issued during the year; the total cost of which was 176?. 12s. Sd.

Scientific Purposes Grant.?During the past year twenty intending travellers have received instruction from Mr. Coles in Practical Astronomy in the Society's Observatory, and in route-surveying with the theodolite and plane table in the country. The total number of hours devoted to teaching during the year was 268. These figures show that the number of intending travellers who have received instruction is double that of last year, and that the amount of instruction given has considerably increased.

Twenty-six lessons in Botany, twenty in Photography, and nineteen in Geology, have also been given to intending travellers during the year.

The total amount expended by the Society in aid of lessons during the year has heen 41?. 12s. 6d.

Instruments to the value of 257?. 17s. 6d. have been lent during the past year to the following travellers:?Mr. T. Bevan, New Guinea, 61?. 8s. 6d.; Mr. W. Montagu Kerr, Central Africa, 62?. 19s. 6c?.; Mr. Joseph Thomson, Marocco, 74?. 11s. 6d.; Rev. W. Spotswood Green, British Columbia, 29?. 5s.; Mr. C. M. Woodford, Solomon Islands, &c, 29?. 13s.

The instruments lent to the following gentlemen have been returned, with the exception of those which have been lost:?Rev. T. J. Comber (Congo Region), 1886 ; Mr. A. R. Colquhoun (Burmah, &c), 1883; Mr. A. P. Maudslay (Guatemala), 1886; Mr. J. T. Last (East Africa), 1885; Mr. C. M. Wcodford (Solomon Islands), 1886 ; Rev. Q. W. Thomson (East Africa), 1876 ; Mr. H. O. Forbes (New Guinea), 1885; Mon. H. M. P. de la Martiniere (Marocco), 1877; Lieutenant J. G.

Haggard, r.n. (East Africa), 1884; Mr. W. Montagu Kerr (Central Africa), 1887. The following is a list of travellers who (with the exception of a few that have

been returned) still have the instruments lent them in their possession:?Rev. W.P. Johnson (East Africa), 1879; Rev. W. G. Lawes (New Guinea), 1880; Rev. T. Wakefield (East Africa), 1882-83; Mr. E. Douglas Archibald (for cloud observa? tions in England), 1885 ; Dr. E. J. Baxter (East Africa), 1884-85; Lieut.-Col. Kitchener, r.e. (East Africa), 1885 ; Mr. H. H. Johnston (Cameroons District, West

Africa), 1886 ; Mr. T. Bevan (New Guinea), 1887 ; Mr. Joseph Thomson (Marocco), 1888; Rev. W. Spotswood Green (British Columbia), 1888 ; Mr. 0. M. Woodford

(Solomon Islands), 1888. In several cases where travellers have died abroad, the instruments lent to them

have not yet been returned. Map Room.?The accessions to the Map Room Collection during the past year

comprise 1614 Maps and Charts on 2155 sheets ; 24 Atlases, containing 710 sheets of Maps, and 946 Photographs and Views. Of these, 32 Maps on 439 sheets, 7 Atlases, and 296 Photographs (including 50 Magic Lantern Slides) have been

purchased. The accessions exceed those of last year by 60 Maps on 208 sheets, 7 Atlases, and 398 Photographs.

Among the most important donations to the Map Room Collection are 654: sheets of the Ordnance Survey of the British Isles (presented by the First Commissioner of Public Works, through the Director-General of the Ordnance Survey); 146 sheets of British Admiralty Charts (The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, through the Hydrographer); 244 sheets of the various Indian Government Surveys (H.M. Secretary of State for India); 37 French Charts (Service Hydrographique de




la Marine, Paris); 25 United States Charts (Commander J. R. Bartlett. u.s.n., Hydrographer to the Bureau of Navigation, Washington, D.C.) ; 31 Maps published by Herr Justus Perthes, Gotha, mostly in Petermann's ' Geographische Mitteilungen

'

(the Publisher); ' The Royal Atlas of Modern Geography,' new edition, ' Atlas

General de la Republica Argentina,' and other miscellaneous publications (Messrs. W. & A.K. Johnston); * Handy Yolume Atlas of the World' (Messrs. G. Philip & Son); 191 Photographs of Kashmir and the N.W. Frontier of India (Prof. Thiselton Dyer); 20 Photographs of Scenery in Tierra del Fuego (Senor Julio Popper) ; 113 Photographs of Russian Central Asia (E. Delmar Morgan, Esq.); 122 Photo? graphs of the Caucasus (M. Moritz von Dechy); 25 Photographs of the Jura Mountains and neighbourhood (James Jackson, Esq., Paris) ; Parts XXX., XXXI., and XXXII. of Topographischer Atlas der Schweiz (Section Topograph. du Bureau d'^tat-Major Fe'deral a Berne); 19 Maps of the United States and Canada (Messrs. Rand, McNally & Co., Chicago); 3 sheets of the Generalstabens Topographiske Kaart over Danmark (The Danish Minister of War) ; 6 Sheets of the Survey of the Sandwich Islands (W. D. Alexander, Esq., Surveyor-General) ; 2 Meteorological Atlases of the Bay of Bengal, and Part III. of the Synchronous Weather Charts of the North Atlantic, &c, for every day from 1st August, 1882, to 31st August, 1883 (Meteorological Office); Nuevo Atlas Geografico del Peru (Don Carlos Paz Soldan); Carta dimostrativa della regione compresa fra Massaua, Keren, Aksum e Adigrat, on two scales (Italian Embassy); Rowley's Map of the Colony of New South Wales, 2 editions (Agent-General for New South Wales) ; Appleton's Atlas of the United States (Messrs. D. Appleton & Co.. New York).

Five new diagrams have been constructed on the premises, and important altera- tions made to three others. Five diagrams have been drawn outside the building.

Collection of Photographs.?The Society's collection of photographs has been so largely increased during the past year by donations and purchases, authorised by the Council, that it has been found necessary to provide an additional set of cases in the Map Room for their reception, thus making them easily available for reference when required by the Fellows of the Society and the public.

The Educational Collection.?The various articles that were retained from the Educational Exhibition?maps, globes, atlases, text-books, pictures, &c.?have been arranged in a room fitted for the purpose, as the nucleus of a collection of objects nsed in geographical education. The collection is open to the inspection of Fellows and others interested in education, and has already been visited by a considerable number of persons desirous of obtaining information as to the best appliances available for geographical teaching.

Library.?During the past year 822 books and pamphlets have been added to the Library; 637 by donation, and 185 by purchase; 300 pamphlets have been put in covers by the Society's map-mounter, and 415 volumes have been bound.

The sum of 108/. 5s. 4d. has been spent in purchasing books, and the further sum of 971. 14s. Bd. in binding for the Library.

Among the more important accessions are the following :?Laveleye's ' Balkan Peninsula' (the Publisher); Hoche, ' Les Pays des Croisades'; Capello and Ivens, 'De Angola a Contracosta,' 2 vols. (the Authors); Danish International Polar Observations, 1882-83, Tome IL, lere Liv. (The Meteorological Institute of Denmark); the publications of the Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society; continuation ofthe Reports of the Scientific Results of the Voyage of the Challenger (by the Lords of the

Treasury); the publications of the Meteorological Office, and of the Intelligence Department of the War Office; continuation of the General Report of the Survey of India, and of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India, Max Muller's ' Sacred Books of the East,' Hunter's ' Imperial Gazetteer of India,' 2nd edition, 14 vols.,




Atkinson's 'Himalayan Districts of the N.W. Provinces of India,' Vol. III., and Logan's

' Malabar,' 2 vols. (H.M. Secretary of State for India); continuation of the

Memoirs and Records of the Geological Survey of India (the Indian Government); the Publications de l'ficole des Langues Orientales Vivantes (The French Minister of Public Instruction) ; continuation of the Reports of the Tenth Census of the United States, 1880 ; the publications of the U.S. Geological Survey; The Norwegian North-Atlantic Expedition (the Editorial Committee); Sir R. Temple's ' Journals kept in Hyderabad, Kashmir, Sikkim, and Nepal,' 2 vols. (the Publishers); Charnay's ' Ancient Cities of the New World' ; (the Publishers); Martin's * Westindische Skizzen'; Bergner's * Rumanien '; Dennis, * Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria,' 3rd edition, 2 vols.; Riley's ' Athos' (the Publishers); * Beitrage zur Kenntniss des Russischen Reiches,' Dritte Folge, Band II.; Van den Berg,

' Le Hadhramout'; Erckert's ' Kaukasus '; ' Die Internationale Polarforschung, 1882- 83,' 2 vols. (the German Polar Commission); 'Beobachtungen der Russischen Polarstation an der Lenamundung,' II. Theil, I. Lief., ' Beobachtungen der Russi? schen Polarstation auf Nowaja Semlja,' II. Theil (the Russian Geographical Society) ; the ' Encyclopsedia Britannica,' 9th edition, Vols. XXII. and XXIII. (the Pub? lishers) ; Theal's ' History of the Boers in South Africa' (the Publishers); Justin Winsor's * History of America,' Vols. V. and VI.; the Hakluyt Society Publications ; Jackson's ' Dalmatia,' &c, 3 vols. (the Publishers); ' Delimitation Afghane' (M. Venukoff); ' Manual of Scientific Enquiry,' 5th edition (the Hydrographer of the Admiralty) ; Reade's ' Origin of Mountain Ranges'; ' Unser Wissen von der Erde,' 2 vols. (the Publisher) ; Becker, ' La Vie en Afrique,' 2nd edition, 2 vols. (the Pub? lishers) ; Soleillet's ' Voyage a Segou,' (the Publisher); Coudreau's ' La France ^quinoxiale,' 2 vols., and Atlas (the Publisher); Cust's ' Linguistic and Oriental Essays,' Second Series (the Author); Yeats' 'Technical, Industrial, and Trade Education,' 4 vols. (the Publishers); ' Europaische Wanderbilder' (Messrs. Orell Fussli & Co.); Guppy's 'Solomon Islands,' 2 vols. (the Publishers); Howorth's ' Mammoth and the Flood' (the Publishers); Cunningham and Abney's ' Pioneers of the Alps'; Layard's ' Early Adventures,' 2 vols. (the Publishers); Stone's ' Teneriffe,' 2 vols. (the Publishers);' Meddelelser om Gr^nland,' 6 vols. (the Commission for the Exploration of Greenland); Viaggio della Regia Corvetta " Caracciolo,"' 4 vols.; Darwin's Life and Letters, 3 vols.; Radde's ' Ornitologicheskaya fauna Kavkasza' (the Author); Graham and Ashbee,' Travels in Tunisia' (the Authors) ; Giissfeldt's ' Reise in den Andes' (the Author); 'Die Internationale Polarforsclnmg,' 1882-83, ' Beobachtungs-Ergebnisse der Norwegischen Polarstation Bossekop in Alten' (Herr Aksel S. Steen); ' Beitrage zur Geophysik,' I. Band (the Publisher); Samuelson's ' Bulgaria'; James,' The Long White Mountain' (the Publishers) ; Little,' Through the Yangtse Gorges'; ' Emin Pasha in Central Africa' (the Publishers); Curr, ' The Australian Race,' 4 vols. (the Author) ; Joest's ' Tatowiren,' (the Author) ; Letters of Ortelius; Chantre's J Recherches Anthropologiques dans le Caucase,' 5 vols.; Doughty's

' Travels in Arabia Deserta,' 2 vols.; and Reclus' ' Universal

Geography,' 12 vols. General Sir H. Thuillier moved the adoption of the Report, which, he said,

contained a good deal of information valuable to the Members of the Society, and evidenced the ability and indefatigable exertions of the Council. For the reports and other useful information emanating from the Society the Fellows were, to a great extent, indebted to Mr. Clements Markham, and they must all approve of the Gold Medal being presented to him.

Colonel H. H. Godwin-Atjsten seconded the motion. One of the most satis?

factory portions of the Report was that which referred to the Scientific Purposes Grant, It was pleasing to find so many intending travellers making use of the




opportunities afForded hy the Society, to receive instruction hefore they started on their wanderings in distant parts.

The resolution was agreed to. The Ballot for the Council for 1888-89 was then opened.

PRESENTATION OF THE ROYAL MEDALS.

The Royal Medals for the encouragement of Geographical Science and Discovery had heen awarded hy the Council this year as follows:?

The Fotjnder's Medal to Mr. Clements R. Markham, c.b., f.r.s., on his retire- ment from the Honorary Secretaryship of the Society after twenty-five years' service, and in acknowledgment of the valuahle services rendered hy him to the Society during that period. Also for his numerous and important contrihutions to geo? graphical literature during the last thirty-five years, including thirty-two papers puhlished in the ' Journal' and ' Proceedings' of the Society; and in recognition of his merits as an active explorer in the Eastern Andes in 1853 and again in 1860, when engaged in relation to the propagation of cinchona, and in Ahyssinia in 1866-67, when acting as geographer to the expedition in that country.

The Patron's Medal to Lieut. H. Wissmann in recognition of his great achieve- ments as an explorer in Central Africa, which he has twice crossed from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, and especially for the arduous and adventurous journey in which he traced the course of the river Kassai, from its upper waters to its previously unknown confluence with the Congo. His first journey was recorded in the ? Pro? ceedings

' of the Society in 1883, and commented upon hy our President, Lord Aherdare, in his Address of that year. An account of his last march across the continent, during which he crossed the previously unknown country hetween the Sankuru and Nyangwe, is puhlished in the ' ProceediDgs

' for December 1887. In presenting the Founder's Medal, the President addressed Mr. Markham in

the following words:?Mr. Markham, I feel that I should congratulate myself on heing the person entrusted with the duty of presenting to you the Founder's Medal, the symhol of the Royal Geographical Society's recognition of the highest form of merit among those who have devoted themselves to the cause of geographical dis? covery and the advancement of geographical knowledge.

Our Society will always he proud of having inscrihed on the list of its Medallists the names of those who have distinguished themselves in the manner that you have, in the promotion of geographical discovery and the diffusion of geographical know? ledge, as well as of those who have heen actually engaged in the arduous task of exploring hitherto unknown countries, fully recognising the connection between these two classes of workers which renders them mutually necessary for the eomplete success of either.

To attempt to recite at length the number and various subjects of the papers that you have communicated to our Society would he impracticahle, and much the same may he said of your geographical labours in other directions, whether in the form of publications devoted to geography, or of exertions to promote geographical exploration in all parts of the earth, the Arctic regions and the Tropics, the Eastern and Western Hemispheres having been alike favoured by your well-directed and successful enthusiasm.

I think that I shall include all that need he said further of your claims to receive this Medal when I express my confident belief that, so long as a record shall remain of the history of the Royal Geographical Society, among the names of those who have added to its reputation and increased its usefulness, will be found in a place second only to Roderick Murchison, that of Clements Markham.

Mr. Markham on accepting the Medal, said, that the deep and active interest he




had always taken in the science of geography, and in the progress of discovery, had certainly been a source of inexhaustible pleasure to himself. It seemed to him that there was no other department of knowledge which covered so much ground as geo? graphy, which was so many-sided, and so calculated to satisfy the longings and aspirations of the mind. The study of a region, from a geographical point of view, embraced the history of its discoverers and their labours, the story of the inhabitants and their progress, the natural history, physical aspects, and indeed everything that could attract the attention and interest of an inquirer. The objects of the Royal Geographical Society embraced the study of every region of the globe from this exhaustive point of view. It was the endeavour of the Society to promote a sound knowledge of every part of the earth's surface, and it was a just ground for pride that it had extended geographical knowledge in e^ery direction. It would have been a sufficient reward to himself personally, as well as a source of gratification and pleasure, that he had had the honour of having been connected officially for so many years with labours of this important character, and that he had been able, in however slight a degree, to help in the great work. The grant to him of the Society's highest honour could not increase his love for geography, nor his affection for the Society?that was impossible; but he should always look upon it as a kind condonation of shortcomings, and as a most generous recognition of services always done zealously and with good intentions if not always judiciously and well. He begged to offer to the President, the Council, and the Fellows, his most sincere and heartfelt thanks for the great honour they had conferred upon him.

In the absence of Lieutenant Wissmann, his Medal was received by Colonel Sir Francis de Winton, b.a., k.c.m.g. The President said : I have much pleasure in handing to you, to be delivered to Lieut. Wissmann, an officer of the German army, this Gold Medal of the Society, at the same time expressing my regret at his absence and the cause of it, and hoping that he may soon be restored to health and the pro- secution of his career. It is also incumbent on me, while recognising the great personal merits of Lieut. Wissmann, and of the valuable assistance he received from his various associates in the expedition in which he has been engaged, to express, on behalf of this Society, its high appreciation of what is due to H.M. the King of the Belgians, through whose munificence the later expeditions were organised and equipped.

Lieut. Wissmann's explorations, which have extended over the last seven years, have gone far to open out the southern portion of the great tract included in the Congo Free State, extending over 12 or 14 degrees of longitude, and they will no doubt, before long, lead to the utilisation for purposes of commerce of the great navigable rivers which unite to form the Kassai, the great southern tributary of the Congo, the existence of which they have established, and to the civilisation of the countries through which those rivers flow.

Sir Francis de Winton, in acknowledging the award on Lieut. Wissmann's behalf, said, that he was sure the Fellows would agree with him in an expression of sympathy towards Lieut. Wissman, and of regret that he was not able to be present on account of ill-health. He (Sir Francis) had the pleasure of knowing him intimately for two years when they were together on the Congo, and during that period he formed the highest opinion of his abilities, not only as an explorer, but also as an officer of the German army, and as one who had his whole heart and soul in the work in which he was engaged. On his behalf, he thanked the Society for having granted him the Medal. Lieut. Wissmann had written to him to say, " You will be glad to hear that my health is so much better that I can hope now to profit once more by my experience in the service of science and civilisation." Two




months ago he was at Madeira, and intended to return to the scene of his former labours, and no doubt in the future, as in the past, he would add greatly to our geo? graphical knowledge.

The Award of the Murchison and Cuthbert Peek Grants and the Gill Memorial.

The President announced that the Council had awarded the above grants as follows:?

The Murchison Grant for 1888, to Mr. J. M'Carthy (Superintendent of Surveys in Siam) for his excellent map of Siam, and the paper giving a resume of his explorations in that country.

The Cuthbert Peek Grant for 1886-7-8, to Major Festing, for his services as a cartographer on the Gambia river and the country in the neighhourhood of Sierra Leone.

The Gill Memorial for 1888, to Mr. Charles M. Doughty, as a contribution towards the expenses incurred on the map of Arahia, illustrating the recently puhlished account of his travels.

(The Back Grant was not awarded this year.) The Three Honorary Corresponding Memherships for 1888 had heen voted to

Dr. Kadde, of Tiflis, Dr. H. Rink, of Copenhagen, and Dr. Rein, Professor of Geography at Bonn.

Presentation of the Training College Prizes.* The Scholarships and Prizes offered hy the Society to the students of Training

Colleges for Geographical proficiency in the Examinations last December had heen awarded hy the Examiners of the Education Department to the following:?

Male Candidates. Scholarship: J. W. Goodyere, Borough Road College. Brizes: Fredk. Baker, Cheltenham College; H. Groveb, Battersea College, and J. E. Quaife, Borough Road College; A. J. Berry, Battersea College.?Female Candidates. Scholarship: A. E. Alexander, Whitelands College. Brizes: A. Eve, Bishop Stortford College. K. Charlton, Lincoln College; Isabella Innes, Warrington College; Gertrude Martin, Chichester College.

Before introducing the successful candidates, Mr. Francis Galton said:?Geo? graphical prizes are given for the first time this year to pupils in training colleges. Our Society has been unremitting in its efforts to stimulate and improve geographical education during the past twenty years, though the direction of its efforts has varied according to circumstances. We began with the public schools, we have given prizes in connection with the Oxford and Camhridge Local Examinations, with the Uni? versity Extension Scheme, and with Training Ships for the Mercantile Navy. We

* The Medals for the Promotion of Geographical Education, placed by the Society at the disposal of the Syndicates respectively of the Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations, were awarded as follows :?

1887. Oxford (June).?Silver Medal?George Henry Ball, Liverpool. Bronze Medal? David Landale Johnston, Boston.

Cambridge (December). ? Silver Medal ? (Physical Geography) ? Florence Clementina Boyd, Croydon. Silver Medal?Elizabeth Charlotte Cowen, Hoxton.

The Prize Atlases offered by the Society for Geographical Proficiency to the cadets of the Nautical Training Colleges on board H.M. ships Worcester and Conway, were awarded, at the examinations held in July 1887, to the following:?John Chase. (Conway training-ship); Charles Hay Murray ( Worcester training-ship).




appointed an Inspector of Geographical Education at home and abroad, we published his report and had it well discussed, and we widely exhibited the valuable collection of educational appliances made by him. We initiated and have taken a half-share in the endowments of a Readership in Geography at Oxford and of a Lecturership at Cambridge. We have made provisions for future scholarships in geography at those Universities. This year we take a new departure in promoting the improved teaching of geography in elementary schools, by giving prizes to those students in

Training Colleges who were placed first by their own examiners. I have the greatest pleasure in testifying to the cordiality with which the Education Department responded to our request to be permitted to do so. They understood that we had no intention of meddling with their programme, but that we simply desired to acquaint ourselves writh the best fruits of their system of geographical teaching, and to extend our good-will and support to those students who had shown special geographical aptitudes. The Board of Education were so confident of the goodness of the teaching in their Training Colleges, that they were willing and pleased that the Geographical Society should have the opportunity of appreciating it. I have great pleasure in stating that those of our Council who were deputed to acquaint themselves with the character of the geographical examinations in the Training Colleges, and with the answers of the pupils, were most favourably impressed with, and I may add surprised at, the high standard of the one and the excellence of the other. The Council have therefore reason to remain satisfied with their own proposal of accepting the judgment of the examiners of the Education Department as to who deserved the prizes. It has been a very close race, and the winners of the chief

prizes have only won by a neck. Our Society regards all the students who have

distinguished themselves as future geographical missionaries. They will soon have

pupils of their own, and I trust that one effect of their geographical teaching will be to inspire those pupils with an intelligent sympathy with their fellow-subjects abroad. For even if that sympathy never rises above the stage of sentiment, without

developing into any definite form of Imperial Federation, it cannot fail to have a large influence in maintaining the cohesion of the British Empire.

The Prizes were then handed by the President to the successful students. Mr. J. R. Langler (of the Westminster Training College) recognised the great

encouragement which would be afforded by such a generous offer of prizes, and sa;d that in connection with the recent Geographical Exhibition, he had suggested this new departure to the Society after the confessed failure of the anticipated result of the distribution of medals to pupils in the great public schools of this country. Every one must perceive the very great value of the knowledge of geography to the masses of this over-populated country who did not understand the advantages which

might be derived from emigration. When the condition of affairs in the Colonies was really known, there would be a greater inclination on the part of the people to emigrate to places which greatly needed their services. He had good reason to believe that the Education Department was extremely willing to render still further

help to the Geographical Society in encouraging such studies through the elementary schools of the country.

Rev. J. P. Faunthorpe (Principal of the Whitelands Training College) expressed his pleasure that the Society had taken this new departure, which was likely to be of immense service to the very highest interests of the Society. The students in the

Training Colleges numbered two or three thousand every year, and they would disseminate a knowledge of geography throughout the country in the primary schools, where it was most important that there should be a knowledge of our Colonial empire disseminated, so that we may become in reality as well as in name a united British empire.

No. VII.?July 1888.] 2 k




Mr. Bourne, on behalf of the students of Borough Road College, thanked the Society for the prizes which they had given.

The President said, although the Society gave these prizes for proficiency in Geography, they were not to be understood as rewards for what had been learned, but as inducements to the study of geography. He trusted that those who had not been successful would still remember that they in reality might add very greatly to the utility of the profession which they had adopted, by extending to the utmost of their power the knowledge of geography among their pupils.

THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

The President read the Annual Address on the Progress of Geography. On the conclusion of the Address, Sir Harry Verney, Bart., proposed a vote of

thanks to the President for his Address. Certainly the past year had been one of very remarkable improvement in geographical knowledge. Scientific geography was the foundation of all other sciences with regard to different countries. If our Government had been possessed of geographical knowledge at the time of Lord Ashburton's mission to the United States, the boundary-line between the territories of Great Britain and the States would not have been drawn at the 49th parallel. When he (Sir H. Verney) was in the Pacific, sixty years since, the Columbia river was the boundary. The province between that and the Straits of Fuca was Georgia, perhaps the most valuable district on the west coast of North America. We ceded it, and it is now Washington territory. Our geographical ignorance was the reason why the State of Maine now extends to within a few miles of the St. Lawrence, and why Portland is not ours, our rightful port to Canada. He remembered hearing a Cabinet minister declare in the House of Commons that there was only one road into the Crimea from the interior of Russia, practicable for artillery. He drank tea that evening with Meyer, Prince Albert's secretary, and told him: " What nonsense," said Meyer, " what ignorance! I could tell him of two others quite practicable for artillery." England has sustained losses over and over again, owing to our want of geographical knowledge?that we used to study only Latin and Greek at our public schools. Our country may feel grateful to the Society for the efforts made to dispel that ignorance, and we all thank our President for his interesting and valuable address, declaring to us the progress of geographical knowledge made during the past year.

Sir Frederick Young seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Secretary then read over the names of the Council for 1888-9 as duly

elected, according to the report of the Scrutineers of the Ballot. The Council for 1888-9 is constituted as follows (the names printed in italics

being new Members or those who change office):? President: General Richard Strachey, r.e., c.s.i., f.r.s. Vice-P residents: Sir

Rutherford Alcock, k.c.b. ; Francis Galton, Esq., f.r.s. ; Sir Joseph Hooker, k.c.s.i., c.b., f.r.s. ; Major-General Sir H. C. Rawlinson, k.c.b. ; General Sir C. P. Beauchamp Walker, k.c.b.; Colonel H. Yule, c.b. Treasurer: Reginald T. Cocks, Esq. Trustees: Right Hon. Lord Aberdare, g.c.b., f.r.s. ; Sir John Lubbock, Bart., f.r.s. Secretaries; Douglas W. Freshfield, Esq.; Col. Sir Francis W. de Winton, r.a., k.c.m.g. Foreign Secretary: Lord Arthur Russell. Members of Council: Sir Henry Barkly, g.c.m.g., k.c.b. ; J. Ball, Esq.,F.n.s. ; LordBrassey, k.c.b.; Admiral Lindsey Brine ; Hon. G. C. Brodrick ; J. Annan Bryce, Esq.; Col. J. A. Grant, c.b., f.r.s. ; Major-General Sir F. J. Goldsmid, k.c.s.i., c.b. ; Sir John Kirk, g.c.m.g., f.r.s.; Lieut.-General Sir Peter S. Lumsden, g.c.b.; Colin Mackenzie, Esq.; Clements B. Markham, Esq., c.b., f.r.s. ; Alfred P. Maudslaij, Esq.; Admiral Sir



PROCEEDINGS OF FOREIGN SOCIETIES. 471

F. L. M'Clintock, f.r.s.; E. Delmar Morgan, Esq.; Sir Rawson W. Rawson, K.C.M.G., c.b. ; B. Leigh Smith, Esq., m.a. ; H. Seebohm, Esq., f.b.s. ; Capt. W; J. L. Wharton, r.n. ; General J: T. Walker, c.b., f.r.s. ; Colonel Sir Charles W. Wilson, B.E., K.C.M.G.

PKOCEEDINGS OF FOBEIGN SOCIETIES.

Geographical Society Of Paris, April 20th, 1888.?This meeting was held in the large Sorbonne Hall, in order to celebrate the centenary of the death of Laperouse. M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, President of the Society, occupied the Chair, and was supported on the platform by Admiral Krantz, Minister for the Navy and the Colonies, M. Lockroy, Minister of Public Instruction, Prince G. de Leuchtemberg, Prince Roland Bonaparte, M. Barbey, late Minister of the Navy, Rear-Admiral Yiscount Fleuriot de Langle, Dr. Hamy, President of the Central Commission, M. Neurand, President of the Commercial Geographical Society of Paris, and others, including representatives of most of the chief Geographical Societies of France.?After a brief speech by the Chairman, the following papers were read:?" Notes on the Private Life of Lapdrouse," by M. de Barthes de Laperouse, retired naval captain, and grand-nephew of the illustrious traveller; "ASuceinct Resume of the Yoyages of Laperouse," by M. de Courcel, late lieutenant of the Navy; and a paper entitled, "How the Remains of Laperouse were found," by Yiee- Admiral Paris, Member of the Institute. These three memoirs will be published in the ' Quarterly Bulletin.'?In conclusion, some further observations were made by M. de Lesseps.?Count de Bizemont afterwards announced that the exhibition of objects relating to the Laperouse expedition would be opened on the 23rd April at the offices of the Society.

-?? May 4th, 1888: M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, President of the Society, in the Chair.?This was the first General Meeting of the year. The Chairman, after a few opening remarks, called upon M. W. Huber, on behalf of the Commission on the Prizes, to read the general report on the awards made by the Society for the present year, which were as follows:?Gold Medal to R. P. Roblet, of the Society of Jesus, for his geographical and topographical map of Madagascar ; Gold Medal to MM. Bonvalot, Capus, and Pepin, for their journey to Kafiristan and the Pamir; Gold Medal to M. Chaffanjon for his voyage along the Upper Orinoco as far as the vicinity of the sources of that river; Silver Medal to M. Francois Coillard, missionary of the Protestant Evangelical Society, in consideration of his journey in the region north of the Zarnbesi; the Logerot prize to Dr. Yerneau, for his valuable monograph on the Canary Islands; and the Jomard prize to M. Jules Codine, for his works on historical geography. M. Huber then read a resume' of each of the separate reports on the prizes, and the Chairman presented the medals to the various recipients. ?M. J. Renaud, one of the scrutineers, announced the result of the election for the re-constitution of the Bureau of the Society for 1888-9, as follows:?President, M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, of the Institute; Yice-Presidents, M. A. Grandidier, of the Institute, and M. Albert de Lapparent, Professor of Geology; Scrutineers, M. lildouard Caspari, Hydrographical Engineer, and M. Charles Yelain, Professor of Physical Geography; Secretary, M. lildouard Bonvalot; Treasurer, M. Meignen; Librarian, M. James Jackson.?In conclusion, M. Marcel Monnier gave an account of his journey across South America, of which the following is a brief resume. The traveller's original plan was to start from the neighbourhood of Quito, and then to strike across to the eastern slope of the Cordillera and the Amazonian basin; he intended then to follow the course of the Rio Pastaza, which had not been so

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the anniversary meeting, may 28th, 1888

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