The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 24, 1864.

9110 PERSONS SEEKING LANDED
ATES, TOWN AND COUNTRY RESIDENCES,
FREEHOLD AND LEASEHOLD INVESTMENTS, AND
PROPERTIES GENERALLY—
To BE HAD GRATIS, at the principal Railway Bookstalls
throughout the kingdom, or at the Auction and Estate Offices,
No. 67, Chancery-lane, London, Messrs. E. and H. Lumley's
"FREE PROPERTY REGISTER," containing a varied selection
of landed and house properties now in the market, from
the nobleman's mansion, with its manorial domain, to the
cottage with its few acres.
OWNERS OF PROPERTIES wishing to Sell or Let can em-
brace the opportunity that the medium of this Resister
affords, by sending the particulars of their properties to the
Estate Offices, 67, Chancery-lane, London, as the Messrs.
Lumley can in most cases introduce immediate customers,
where the property is of an eligible Ohara, ter, thereby avoid-
ing the disadvantages of delay and its attenuant incon-
veniences.
THERE IS NO CHARGE incurred, unless a tenant or pur-
cnaser is introduced through slessrs. Lumley's Agency,
and then only the usual moderate commission.
Auction and Land Offices, 67, Chancery-lane, London.

FURNITURE, CARPETS, BEDDING, and
FLOORCLOTFI, CARRIAGE-FREE to any house in
the kingdom, regardless of amount or distance. Flrst.class
goods at second-class prices. Terms peculiarly liberal to
Clergymen and Gentlemen. An immense stock to select
from, displayed in Showrcoms occupying an acre of ground.
Every article warranted.
CLEBGY3IEN and GENTLEMEN ABOUT TO FUR-
NISH are respectfully informed that Messrs. Cobbett and
are publishing an entirely New Edition of their un-
equalled HOUSE FURNISHING GUIDE, illustrated by4lo
:atm.-able engravings of every description of Furniture and
tectsteads, with prices attached. A copy sent g-t atis and
post-free on application. This costly work also contains
complete estimates for furnishing on the following revised
tale :
A Six-roomed Parsonage £74 3 0
An Eight-roomed ditto
A Ten-roomed ditto ........
A Twelve-roomed ditto
Together with a Price List of purified Bedding, and a mass
cavalnable informationto all requiring househ3ld furniture,
carpets, or bedding. References kindly permitted to Clergy-
men and gentlemen in or near Great Malvern, Southampton,
Chichester, Bury, Ely, Preston, Grimsby, Ryde, Plymouth,
Wells. Oxford. Brighton, Gainsborough, Margate. Kidder-
minster, Wellington, Croydon. Cambridge, Staines, Dorking,
St. Alban's, Worcester, Ipswich, Peterborough, St. David's,
Wrexham, and above 500 other places in all parts of Great
Brita::,.
CORBETT and CO., General House Furnishers, Deptford-
bridge, London, S.E,

STEAM from LONDON to NEW YORK,
The British and American Steam Navigation Company
(Limited) will DESPATCH one of the undermentioned
Splendid Fast Screw Steamers TWICE EACH MONTH for
New York :

Tons. Horse Power.
LONDON 2,500 ..... 500 ..... Capt. GLOVER.
WESTMINSTER 2,500 ..... 500 ..... Capt. Coucn.
DUBLIN 2,500 500
NEW YORK 2,500 ..... 500 ..... Capt. HARRIS.

These magnificent vessels are unsurpassed by any ocean-
going steamer, and have accommodation for passengers re-
plete with every comfort. The Line will commence at an
early date ; the exact day to be fixed in a latter announce-
ment. To load in the Victoria Docks.
For freight or passage apply to the Company's Agents,
Alfred Laming and Co., 8, Leadenhall-street.

OHO ESTATE, HOUSE, AND GENERAL
kJ BUSINESS AGENCY OFFICES.—Persons requiring
Freehold or Leasehold Property, or having Business and
Houses to be disposed of, should apply to Mr. CHARLES
MURRAY, Auctioneer and Valuer, 26, Gerrard-street,
Soho, W.
Valuations for Probate Administration, Fire Claims, Rail-
way Compensations, &c. Rents Collected.

HARPER TWELVETREES' UNIVERSAL
CLOTHES WRINGEM—Mrs. Beecher, laundress,
Queen Anne-road, Maidstone, says—" It will wring the finest
laces and Rawlins, as well as full-siz2d counterpanes; and
does not press hooks or break buttons." Price 205., 3 s.,
carriage paid; or of ironmAigers. City Depot, Si, Bishops-
gate-street, Within, E.C. ; Works, Bromley-by-Bow, Lon-
don, E.

BUSINESSES.---Mr. ANDREW HIND'S
MAY LIST,
Containing Businesses, Premis-s, Patinerships, &'., Gratis
Letters, enclose stamp..-Particulars entered free.
OFFICES—CORNER OF LITTLE CARTER-LANE, ST. PAUL'S.

(FFICES.—Mr. ANDREW HIND has to LET
writer al excellent OFFICES in the vicinity of the Bank
and 'Royal Exchange, separately, or in sets of two or three
rooms, suitab e for merchants, solicitors, shipbrokers, &c.
Lent, .£25 to £5O. Apply at 1, Little Carter-lane, St. Paul's.

TO GROCERS and CHEESEMONGERS.—
Mr. ANDREW HIND has for DISPOSAL a BUSI-
NESS near the S' rand, doing £3O per week t all ready money.
Corner shop, and seven rooms. Rent X 52. Price £7O. Stock
about £SO. Offices, corner of Little Carter-lane, St. Paul's.

PUBLIC HOUSE.—Mr• ANDREW HIND has
to LET a capital HOUSE at Camberwell, containing
well fitted bar, parlour, kitchen, concert, and five other rooms.
Rent £5O. Lease twenty years. Takings £lOO per month.
Premium £6OO, or the proprietress would take a lady with
£2 oas partner. App yat 1, Little Carter-lane, St. Paul's,

COFFEE and DINING-ROOMS.—Mr. ANDW.
HIND has for immediate SALR a BUSINESS near
the City, doing £2O per week. Two shops, thirteen rooms,
and yard. Rent £75. Let off £ll5. Lease thirty years,
Coming in £l5O. Offices, corner of Little Carter-lane, St.
Paul's.

TO DRAPERS.—Mr. ANDREW HIND has
for SALE an old-established BUSINESS, rear Hol-
born. doing £l5 to £2O weekly. Coming in £BO. Stock op-
tional. Offices, corner of Little Carter-lane, St. Paul's.

11OUSES.—Mr! ANDREW HIND has for
SALE FIVE COTTAGES, close to a station six
miles from town, producing £155 per annum. Ground rent
£2O. Price £5OO. Also, the following:—Wandsworth, Eight
Freeholis, £l,OOO ; ditto, Six Leaseholds, £7O ); Teddington,
Four,
L'soo ; Notting-hill, Three, £1,020 ; Penge, Five (tin-
finished), £BOO ; Bournemouth, £l,OOO, itc, Offieekl, corner of
Little Carter-lane, St. Paul's.

GROCERS.--Mr. ANDREW HIND has for
SALE a BUSINEiS, one mile west of the City. Shop,
warehouse, cellars, and seven rooms. gent Xl3O. Lease
eighteen years. Price £315. Also, the following:—Blooms-
bury, £1('0; IslinZcon, £200; Maryiebone, £.00; N.W. Dis-
trict, £lBO, Sze, Offices, ecorn'r of Little Carter-lane,

FURNITURE, IRONMONGERY, lIQOTS
Mad SHOES.—Mr. ANDREW lIIND has lor imme-
diate SALE, by order of the executors, an bld-established.
BUSINESS, twelve miles froth totem. Three shops, work-
shops, parlour, six rooms, kitchen, yard, and large garden.
Rent £3O. Lease twenty-one years. Returns £2O per week.
Price £2oa. Office F, corner of Little Carter-lane.

CIGAR and TOBACCONISTS.—Mr. ANDW.
HIND has for SALE a BUSINEM in a ilrincipai
thoroughfare, near the Bank. Shop and bagatelle-room.
Rent £145. Lease six years and a hail. Takings £lB. Price
£3OO. stock £2OO. Also the following:—Covent-garden,
£140; W. District, £80; St. George's, East, £BO. Offices,
corner of Little Catter-lane.

BEER 11012.-o-E.—Mr. ANDREW HIND has
to L-ET a capital HOUSE, in a good •ituation near
"„x '°:street, containing eleven rooms. Rent £52 'Ws.
Proof trade, twenty barrels per month. Price £lOO. Offices,
corner of Little Carttr-lane, St.

LADIES' SCHOOL.-Mr. ANDREW HIND
has for immediate SALE a DAY SCHOOL, well
situate near a station, E. Eight roomed house, and garden.
Rent £3O. Number of pupils 32, paying a guinea per quarter.
Coming in, including school furniture, blinds, &c., £BO.
Offices, corner of Little Carter-lane, St. Paul's.

FAMILY RESIDENCE and LAND.—Mr.
ANDREW HIND has to LET a comfortable HOUSE
in Essex, fourteen miles from town and two from a station,
delightfully situate on high ground, and commanding exten-
sive views. Contains lofty drawing room, dining and morn-
ing rooms, four best and five other bedrooms, kitchens and
cellars. Grounds comprise pleasure and kitchen gardens.
shrubbery, paddock, and meadow, together about seven acres,
with lodge entrance, stabling, coach-house, green-house,
ornamental water and bridge. Rent on three years' agree-
ment, Ll2O ; fixtures, £5O ; or the lease for 18 years at .£lOO.
Price, with fixtures, £2OO. Cards to view may be had at
the Auction and Estate Agency Offices, corner of Little
Carter-lane, St. Paul's.

THE NIZAM of the DECCAN'S Magnificent
CRYSTAL CANDELABRA for INDIA,
being one w five reef 'illy manufactured (154 lights, 22 feet
high, and 12 feet in diameter), is now on show, together with
a great variety of rare and exquisite specimens of workman-
et ip in glass, amongst which are designs in engravings taken
from the famous Elgin marbles; also a variety of the most
delicat3 table glass, with elaborately engraved ernamenta-
tons resembling the finest lace work. The altarpiece, in
cryst.il, has now bee added.

J. DEFRIES and SONS, Crystal Gallery, Egyptian Hail.
CIAANDELIERS in BRONZE. 01010 LU, and
-‘,/ SILVER, of the finest designs for Dining-room and
Library. ➢loderator Lamps in Bronze, Ormolu, China, and
G lass.

J. DEFRIES and SONS, West-end Show Rooms, Crystal
Gallery, Egyptian Piccadilly.

DEFRIES and SONS' CRYSTAL CHAN-
T • DELIERS in Venetian, Grecian, and other registered
De igns for Gas or Candles ; Crystal Lampe, Chandeliers,
and Wall Lights for India; Club, Mess, and General Fur-
nishing. ()niers for Glass, China, and Earthenware promptly
executed.—Works, London and Birmingham; City Show
Rooms and Manulactory,l47, Houndsditch ; West-end Show
Rooms, Crystal Gallery, Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road
in the immediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail-
way Terminus, King's-cross.
FUNDS are urgently REQUIRED.
Treasurer and Banker—EDWARD MASTERMAN, Esq.,
Nicholas-lane.

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

The anniversary meeting of this society was held yester-
day at Burlington-house, Piccadilly,—Sir Roderick Mur-
chison, president of the institution, in the chair. There
was a numerous attendance of members, with a large sprink-
ling of ladies. After some preliminary business,
Mr. MARKHAM, the secretary, read the report of the
council, detailing the transactions of the society for the past
year, and describing its present state and prospects. Since
the last anniversary meeting 233 new members had been
elected, and 61 vacancies had occurred, the total number of
Fellows now being 1,907. The balance-sheet for the year
ending the 31st of December, 1863, showed that the esti-
mated receipts and expenditure laid before last year's meet-
ing bad differed from the actuals, but in a way favourable to
the society—the receipts estimated having been stated at
£1,502 10s., exclusive of the cash in hand ; whereas the
actuals amounted to 15,253 9s. 3d., exclusive of the cash
balance. The estimated expenditure also was put down at
£5,747 ss. 2d., or at £3,897 bs. 7d., excluding the money
proposed to bo invested ; but the outlay, exclusive of the
cash and amount invested, was only £3,655 4s, ld. The
difference between the actual receipts and actual outlay left
a surplus balance in hand of £1,301 ss. 2d„ and the council
had had available for investment in the funds a sum of
£1,837, fcr which there had been purchased £2,000 amount
of stock in Three per Cents. The funded capital of the so-
ciety. consisting at the beginning
of 1863 of £7,500, and at
the close of the year 1863 of £9,500. New Three per Cent.
Government Stocks, was increas :A during the past year by
the purchase of £2,000 stock for a cash payment of £1,837
10s., and since the Ist of January of the current year an addi-
tion had been made by funding a sum of £896 55., for which
£l,OOO New Three per Cent. Stock had been purchased,
making a total of £10,500 stock, yielding an annual income
of £315, as the reserve fund °Ube society up to this date.
The 32d volume of the Journal of the society, which was
announced as ready at the last anniversary, had been
brought out during the past season ; and the council were
sanguine that the valuable papers it contained would greatly
add to the usefulness of the Royal Geographical Society.
The 33d volume of the Journal was now in the press, and
would have been published before this but for the death of
the assistant secretary. The report then proceeded to de-
scribe the accessions which had been made to the library
and the map room, together with the means used to enlarge
the map room collection, and also explained the steps taken
by the award of premiums to encourage the production of
improved scientific instruments for the use of travellers.
Since the last anniversary, with a view to make the instru-
ments more accessible to travellers, a room had been set
apart and the instruments properly arranged, upon the re-
commendation of the Vice-President, Admiral R. Collin-
son. Further arrangements were in contemplation for
making the collection more generally available and useful
to all classes. On the subject of grants to travellers the re-
port stated that the sum of £5O was sent to M. Rohlfs
Gerard on the 10th February, 1864, to assist him in his
projected journey from Morocco towards Timbucto ; and
the council had at present a proposal under the considera-
tion of Government for the exploration of the Nile from
Egypt, for which the sum of £l,OOO would be made avail-
able.
An interesting portion of the proceedings was the pre-
sentation of the patron's and founder's gold medals to dis-
tinguished explorers. The founder's medal falling due this
year to an eminent foreigner, its presentation took prece-
dence. _ _

In performing this ceremony, the PRESIDENT said—
Baron C. von der Decken, this medal is awarded to you for
the two remarkable journeys which you have performed
from the East Coast of Africa to the great mountain of
Kilimandjaro, in each of which, with the assistance of Mr.
Richard Thornton in the first and of Dr. Karsten in the

second case, you made many astronomical observations, and
by the use of good instruments constructed a contoured
map of the region, You also determined numerous alti-
tudes by barometrical measurement, and estimated the
highest of the peaks of the mountains to be 20,065
English feet above the sea, and preyed it to be covered with
perpetual snow. In these expeditions you farther collected
rock specimens which have demonstrated that in a remote
period this snow. capped mountain was an active volcano,
The accuracy of the observations made in your last journey
was proved by a comparison of the chronometers you took
with you, which having been compared on your return to
Zanzibar were found to have varied only seven seconds in
upwards of 100 days. In adjudicating this medal we further
applaud your unabated zeal and energy in exploring Eastern
Africa, sesing that you have just fitted out at great expense
a new expedition, and have constructed an iron river
I steamer, wherewith you hope to mend one of the rivers
flowing from Mount Xenia, and thence to explore unknown
regions of inner Airicat if not to fol.seve down one of the
main eastern affluouts ehe Nile. I therefore hand to you
this medal in the conviction that, long as England was
united with Hanover, we never have had among us one of
your countrymen so entitled to the cordial thanks of geo-
graphers. And as you have named your new vessel the
Guelph I trust that this name,so long endeared to English-
men like myself, who lived in the days when Hanover and
England were, as it were, one country, may be a happy
omen of the success which we all hope may crown your
next enterprise. (Cheers.)
Baron vox DER DECEEN expressed his warm acknow-
ledgments for the honour done him, which he ascribed less
to his actual achievements than to his earnest endeavours
to be useful to geographical science. He attributed it also
in some measure to the expectations formed of his proposed
new expedition to Eastern and Equatorial Africa. Whether
that expedition would be successful God knew, but he had
rotheeekoetnhereon
great hopes in connection; with it, and if anything should
ob-
jects would be pursued b
happen to himself in the course of its prosecution, its
Thornton, Baron von de, members obfyhtihs
thanking
party.
After a feeling allusion to his deceased fellow-explorer, Mr.
the President for the valuable assistance he had always ren-
dered to his enterp •
rises. ud
The PRESIDENT next presented
the patron's or Queen's
medal to Captain Grant in these terms t---Captain Grant, 11
months have elapsed since
w thesee received your leader Captain
and yourself within
walls withthe cordial ac-
knowledgment of the great services
you have performed
openin
• g out Eastern Equatorial Africa, and in showing how
the White Nile flowed out of the very lake previously dis-
covered by your distingukied
having) en his arrival at Goncdosmkpo ranion.
received the m
in Capta Speke
most justly granted to him for the great
o discovery of
f Lake
l
Victoria Nyanza, Wet
conferring this medal upon
you,
' wish it to be understood that we once'e emphatically
mark our deep sense of the value of th e morefir
first great
great
explora-
tion of those lands around .t made by Captain Speke and
yourself.
yourself. When you returied here oar anniversary was
passed over, and both our teodals had been adjudicated, or
otherwise you would before cove have doubtless received the
highest honntir which we stave it in our powet to bestow.
It Veal, however, a source 0: true gratification to us to see
that the Ning of Italy was is the meantime foremost in re-
cognising your merit es well as that of your skilful leader,
and affixed to each of his e
!rituals the appropriate motto of
lennoe a leTilo." On my corn part, I can truly say that on
ocasions on Whi
the manyc ill it has been my lot to present
medalS to explorers of distant regions, I never had greater
satisfaction than on the present occasion. For now that I
hand to you this medal, hewing the effigy of QneenVictoria,
I feel that we
geographersreel not merely recompensing the
noble and disinterested com-anion of Speke, but, as a sol-
dier of the olden
time myself, I have a special pride in re-
cognising he yourself the gallazet young officer who in the
Indian mutiny, and despite a severe wound, was the means
of saving from serious disaster the rearguard of the illus.
trious Havelock as he advanced to the relief of Lucknow.
Accept, then.
this our gracious patron's medal, and consi-
der it as our Victoria Cross. (Cheers,)
expressed
Captain GRANT ened his deep sense of gratitude for
bestowed on him—a reward said •
the high reward he which
he little thought he had ever done anything to motif,
The PRESIDENT then proceeded to deliver his annual ad-
ting the progress of geographical science
dress, , recoun
throughout the world during the past year. His discourse
commenced with an obituary of the stingttished members
of the society who had passed away within the last year.
Among these
were the names of Lord Ashburton, Lord
Elgin, Admiral Washington, Mr Thornton, and others. De-
scanting on the subject of the recent explorations in Africa,
Sir Roderick said—The discovery of that great water basin
the Victoria Nyanza in the heat of equatorial Africa, and
the proof that a great stream flowed out from its northern
extremity, which Speke and Grant followed and stated to
be the White Nile, was. as he stated last year, truly a great
feat of which all our countrymen had reason to be proud.
But in warmly praising and honouring the men who ac-
complished it, they were not yet satisfied as geographers
with that their single line of march and the valuable data
which they fixed regarding the upper waters of the Nile,
They looked naturally to other efforts which must be made
to dispel all scepticism, including that raised by the claim
of the Venetian traveller Miani as to his having continu-
ously ascended the river to 2,1 degrees to the S.S,W. of
Gondokoro, the rocky banks of which he had laid upon a
sketch map. The Council of the society had, therefore, come
to the conclusion that the pbYsic"l geography of all that re-
gion, together with the shores of the Victoria Nyanza (a
lake described by Speke as larger than all Scotland), should
be further explored and the nature and extent of the vari-
ous effluents of that vast body of water determined; that
the regions between the waters of the lake Luta-Lzige and
the lake Tanganyika of Burton and Speke should be ex-
amined in order to determine if there were not there (as
some geographers thought probable) other sources of sup-
ply for the White Nile coming from that region to the west
of the Victoria Nyanza ; and, finally, that, if possible, the
Upper White Nile of Speke and Grant should bo traced
continuously from the lake to that point where, according
to their map, it was made to join the end of the lake Luta-
Lzigi, Having considered that point, the Council had

adopted his (the President's) proposal to fit out an expedi-
tion to clear away all such obscurities by ascending the
White Nile, and not, as previously, by any efforts from Zan-
zibar and the eastern coast of Africa. The difficulties en-
countered by Speke and Grant in passing through that tract
and the apparent impossibility of establishing any regular
traffic between the east coast and the central kingdoms, had
induced the Council to prefer to any other line of research
an effort to render the great White Nile a channel of inter-
course and commerce between the prolific interior and the
traders of the Mediterranean Sea. For such an expedition
the Council were ready to advance 1000, hoping that means
would be found to put a stop to the demoralising traffic in
slaves which, as our Consul-General in Cairo (Mr. Col -
quhoun) wrote to him, was accompanied by horrors of which
no one could form an idea. That they believed could best
be accomplished by the exertions of the Pasha of Egypt and
by the extension of his influence southwards from Khartum
to Gondokoro. The intermediate country was now a sort
of No-man's-land, in which numerous warring small tribes
were kept in an excited and barbarous state by the importa-
tion of firearms, now so largely brought into use. If the
miserable natives were rescued from the present disorders
legitimate commerce would soon arise between the equatorial
kings and the merchants of Cairo and the Mediterranean. A
great portion of the President's address was devoted to the
subject of the glaciers of the Himalayas and New Zealand,
as compared with those of Europe, and their influence in
modifying the surface of the earth. The address was lis-
tened to with great attention and frequently applauded.
At its conclusion Lord DONOUGHMORB moved that the
thanks of the meeting should be voted to the President for
delivering it, coupled with a request for its publication.
The motion was unanimously agreed to.
The members of the Council of the Society were then
chosen by ballot, and on the motion of Sir H. Rawlinson,
seconded by Mr. J. Crawfurd, a rule of the institution was
suspended to enable Sir R. Murchison to be again re-elected
as its chairman. Sir Roderick was unanimously re-elected
accordingly, and briefly returned thanks for that renewed
mark of confidence.
The proceedings then terminated.

THE BANQUET.
The annual dinner of the society took place at Willis's
Room, St. James's, in the evening. Sir R. Murchison again
presided, and was supported by Lord Houghton, Lord
Strangford, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord A.
Churchill, Sir C. Eastlake, Sir T. Fremantle, Sir H. Raw-
linson, General Stanhope, Baron Von Der Decken, Sir S.
Donaldson, Captain Grant, Admiral Kellett, Count Stre-
lecki, Sir C. Nicholson, Admiral Hall, the Hon. Mr. Petre,
Dr. Percy, Mr. Bracebridge, Professor Tyndal, Professor
Hoffman, Professor Masson, Mutu Coomain Swainy, &c.
About 150 guests sat down to dinner.
The PRESIDENT gave " The Queen, the Patron of the
Society," which was drunk with enthusiasm. In proposing
the next toast," The Prince and Princess of Wales, and the
rest of the Royal Family," Sir Roderick remarked that the
Prince of Wales was the greatest traveller of any heir ap-
parent to the English throne in modern times. From the
eloquent words which the Prince had spoken ,at the Lite-
rary Fund dinner, he felt sure that if his Royal Highness
took an interest in any of the sciences, and he hoped he
would take an interest in many, he would evince a special
attachment to geography, in which, as so great a traveller,
he was well fitted to become distinguished. Though the
Prince had seen many lands, he doubted not that, like a
true Englishman, the place dearest of all to him, particu-
larly now that he was united to a charming Danish Prin-
cess, was " sweet home." (Hear, hear,)
The toast was received with the usual honours; and was
followed by " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers."
General STA.NHOPE returned thanks on behalf of the
army, which, he said, was now in as fit a state to go any-
where and to render any service on which her Majesty's
Government might choose to employ it as in the best days
of "the Iron Duke." (Hear, hear.)
Admiral COLLINSON briefly responded on behalf of the
navy.
ro Pfessor MASSON, in returning thanks for the Volun-
teers,
nrs,anae had
and particularlyforheenassociated, said, h
the LondonwithtScaottatinsoho,tding to n
whicha
his
ordinary Jest, Scotland was so horrible a country in itself,
and so awful a place to reside in, that its inhabitants were
more fitted by nature than any other race to become ex-
plorers of other countries. (Laughter and cheers.) It was
an old saying of an English satirist, that had Cain been a
Scotchman God would have reversed his doom, and, in-
stead of making him a wanderer, would have compelled
him to stay at home. (Laughter.) But Scotchmen were
naturally explorers; though some of them had not gone
farther than Engl;nd or London—which, however, to say
the truth, they had found to be so much of a land flowing
with milk and honey, that they had made up their minds to
remain there. (Renewed laughter.) As to the London Scot-
tish, that corps, they might be sure, wr uid always do its
duty, for its members had such an interest in England that
they would suffer no other invaders to set foot in it. (Cheers
and laughter.)
The PRESIDENT said the period had now arrived when it
was usual to propose the toast of the evening, " Prosperity
to the Royal Geographical Society," but he would on that
accasion deviate from the established custom. At the same
time he would express his belief that the gratuitous labours
of that society had yielded fruits of great national import-
ance. The institution had in its earlier days to struggle
with considerable difficulties. At one period they had no
place of meeting, no receptacle for their books or maps.
For a series of years he had striven with the concurrence of
the Council to persuade the Government that for a very
small sum of money, not exceeding the remuneration given
to a first clerk in some of our public departments, that
society could provide itself with a local habitation, feeling
satisfied that that desideratum once gained they would be
able to secure fot it a more extended fame and usefulness.
As a Scotchman himself, he must say he first enlisted in the
cause of geography a Scotchman whose name would live as
long as England endured—he meant the late Joseph Hume
—(hear) —who, on condition that their collection of maps
and books was thrown open to the community, consented to
support a grant of public money for the diffusion of geogra-
phical knowledge. Through the kindness of Lord Aber-
deen, then Prime Minister, the object was at length ob-
tained, and thus was perpetrated a Scotch job—(a laugh)—
but a job which redounded to the honour of the British Go-
vernment and Legislature. Many important distant ad-
ventures had solely originated in the labours of that society.
Its members had been pioneers In the opening up of coun-
tries which were destined indefinitely to increase the wealth
and give a new impulse to the manufacturing industry of
England. In conclusion, he begged to propose that they
should drink to the successive Governments and Parlia-
ments which had countenaced and encouraged the Royal
Geographical Society, coupling with that toast the name of
their distinguished guest, Mr Gladstone. (Cheers.)
The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER, who was received
with cheers, said—Sir Roderick Murchison, lam very glad
that by the deviation which you have ventured upon from
the ordinary course of your speeches and toasts on this occa-
sion you have at any rats enabled me to discharge a duty of
the most pleasing character. It is very delightful to find
that without any reproach from any quarter relations have
been established between this society and the Government,
on a footing, I must say, most modest as far as regards your
demands on the public purse, and I believe also most ben&
ficial as regards the public at large. Sir R. Murchison has
told us, gentlemen, the history of the Geographical Society
with respect to the effect produced on its fortunes by acquir-
ing a local habitation, and I was not aware until this even-
ing that this had been a point of so critical a nature in its
career. To judge front the speech of the President, the eon-
dition of the members of the Geographical Society before
that happy ere arrived must have been not, perhaps, pre-
cisely the same, but not Vet; different from that of parish
vagrants. (A laugh.) The society Would appear to
omewh have
been in the condition of being owned by nobody, sat
in the manner in which ancient fable tells us the island of
Delos was, and I refer to this as a geographical illustration.
(" Hear, heat," and a laugh.) Delos, it is said, was in the
habit of navigating about the Archipelago, coming into con-
stant conflict with one island or another; and it never ac-
quired any distinct site of its own until Latona took it aue
day into her head to be breught to bed there under a palm-
tree, and I have no doubt in a delightful atmosphere-
(Laughter and cheers) From that moment Delos struck
root at the bottom of the sea, and, just as the Geographical
Society did the moment it got a local habitation, became
famous and flourishing, with a name celebrated throughout
the world. (Cheers.) But there is Mitch more which
associates itself with the toast that you have given US than
any reference to the efforts produced by a small grant from
the Government. What is remarkable is,,that so long a
time elapsed before a society of this description came to be
appreciated by the British public; because, without re-
proach or disparagement to any other institution, there
is no other institution which can claim to be more truly
national than that whose festival we are now celebrat-
ing. Ido not say that simply because it happens, as if
by a matter of accident, that so many distinguished
Englishmen and Scotchmen have been travellers, and,
among the boldest and most effective explorers of the un-
known regions of the earth. But I think that if we look
a littlo further into the subject we shall find that phe-
nomenon itself has a cause, and that cause Has deep in the
national character. It is the love of adventure, it is the
boldness in facing danger, it is the strong self-reliance, it
is the ready presence of mind, it is all that constitutes that
powerful individuality which lies at the root of the whole
greatness of this country, and which likewise has lain at the
root of the greatness and of the performances of the Geo-
, graphical Society. (Cheers.) The very same causes which
have made you distinguished as a body are those which have
made England distinguished among the nations of the
world. (Hear.) Mr. President, there is nothing to do
now but to congratulate you on your proud position
asi
express a confident hope that you will go on as you have