The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-26 00:00:00

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this society was held yesterday at
Burlington House, Piccadilly, Sir R. I. Murchison, K. WI,
the President, in the chair. Among those present were—
Lord Colchester, Count Strzelecki, Lord Campbell, Lord
Sheffield, Comte de Paris, Rear-Admiral Sir G, Back, Rear.
Admiral Hall, Lady Franklin, Admiral Collinson, Admiral
Bowles, Major-Gen, Sir H, Rawlinson, Major-Gen. Sir A.
Waugh, Gen. Jochmus, Sir G. Everest, Sir J. Shiel, Sir
C. Nicholson, Admiral Sir E. Belcher, M. E. Grant Duff,
Esq., M.P., the Right Hon. S. H. Walpole, M.P., Profes-
sor Owen, Dr. Rae, Mr. J. Crawfurd, Mr. A. Findlay, Mr.
C. Graham, Mr. F. Galton, Mr. W. Fairbairn, Mr. G. Ben-
tham, Mr. Landsborough (explorer), Mr. E. 0. Smith, &c.
Dr, N. SHAW (Secretary) read the minutes of the last
meeting, which were signed in the usual way by the chair
man.

It was announced that in future the anniversarymeetings
were to be held in the month of May, and that on the 4th
of the month notice would be given to every fellow; the
object of which meeting being to receive the annual report
of the council and hear the President's address on the pro-
gress of geography. Rev. Dr. Worthington, and Capt. Bul-
lock, R.N., were appointed scrutineers, to examine tke vot-
ing papers and announce the result of the ballet taken to
supply the places in the council vacated according to rota-
tion.

The PRESIDENT next called upon Mr. Spottiswoode to
read the report, in which the council state that they have
the pleasure to lay before the society the accounts of the
past year, and their annual report of progress. They have
also to submit to the general meeting certain changes pro-
posed in the existing rules of the society, consequent upon
the retirement of the acting secretary, Dr. Norton Shaw.
Since the last anniversary 190 fellows have been elected,
and the list of members now extends to 1,800 ordinary
and 52 honorary and corresponding members. Our obi-
tuary for the same period reaches to 10 members, and
includes many honoured names. The balance..
sheet shows a steady increase of annual subscriptions, and
a general accordance with the estimate submitted to the last
general meeting. The permanent fund now amounts to
£9,500 New Three per Cents. affording satisfactory proof of
the prosperous financial position of the society. The acces •
sions to the publication department since the last anniver-
sary consist of 830 maps and charts, and two atlasses, all of
which have been mounted en the establishment, and
arranged in geographical order. Telegraphic messages
have been received from Alexandria, announcing thearrival
of Captains Speke and Grant at Khartum, and the settle-
ment of the great question—the sources of the Nile. The
Founder's Gold Medal for the encouragement of geographi-
cal science and discovery has been awarded to Mr. Frank
T. Gregory for his successful explorations in Western
Australia, during which he fixed astronomically 58 positions
for latitude and 19 for longitude; and the Patron's or Vic-
toria Gold Medal has been awarded to Mr. John Arrow-
smith, for the very important services he has rendered to
geographical science in general, and especially to the Royal
Geographical Society, from its foundation to the present
time. Gold watches, bearing honorary inscriptions, have
also been awarded to Mr. William Landsborough, to Mr.
John M`Kinlay, and to Mr. Frederick Walker, for their
successful explorations in Australia. The retirement of
Dr. Norton Shaw, who has for many years filled the oner-
ous offices of acting secretary and editor of the journals,
during which
period the society has so largely increased in
numbers and in financial prosperity, calls for the best
/rushes of all its members for the improvenlent of his health,
br e
and likewise for a substantial acknowledgment of his valu-
ableent a
services. In recognition of these r ervices, extending
o vy er
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council than
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sented to him by the society. The •
honorary secretaries
have also resigned their offices, and are entitled to the thanks
of the meeting for their valuable and gratuitous labours.
The council in reconstructing the administrative arrange-
ments of the society, have, after mature deliberation,
decided to recommend the following changes, viz. :
, That in place of three honorary secretaries there shall
be, besides the foreign secretary, two secretaries, who,
by virtue of their office, shall be members of the council and
of all committees appointed by the council, and who shall
have authority over all the salaried officers of the society
That a foreign secretary be appointed, who shall also be an
ex officio member of the council, and whose duties shall be
similar to those of the honorary foreign secretary under
existing regulation. That an assistant-secretary, a salaried
officer, resident at the society's apartments, be appointed,
who shall be editor of the society's publications; have
charge, under the secretaries, of the property of the society
on the premises ; and exercise a general supervision over
the subordinate officers and servants of the society.
On the motion of Admiral BOWLES, seconded by Mr.
laxcu, the report was received and adopted.
A number of gentlemen were then enrolled as members
be
of the society, the usual vouchers for their eligibility having
been read over by the chairman.
VLEBI-Dzztx said the next thing was to present the