The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-27 00:00:00

Yesterday the annual genet
lows and members of this sod!
lington House—Lord Ashba
Mr. F. GALTON read the rei
which stated that the accessions ,
the last anniversary amounted to
of 234 fellows. During the same period the cot,.
regretted to record the decease of 31 ordinary men'
bers. The society now consists of 1,693 fellowsii
and 55 honorary and corresponding members. The
accounts of the past year showed an increase of re-
ceipts proportionate to the growth of the society,
whilst the disbursements under every head of ex-
penditure had, been kept within the estimates sub-
mitted to the last meeting. The perinaneut fund
of the society at the close of the year areounted to
£6,000 New 3 per Cents., to which have sioce been
added further investments amounting to £2,500,
the total amount of vested property being con.'e-
quelltly £7,500. The 31st volume of the society's
journal, cotiiaining 14 rasps and illustrations,edited
by Dr. Norton `JI-law, has been published, and is
now ready for iesae td the fellow's upon application.
sg:einlocegear
theaccheilsions to the map rooms since the last an-
niversary comprise 438 maps and charts and 10
asses, all of which have been orranged in due
geographical oarndneir; e r
sla' The additions
comprise
pi triiosne thel:3o I,ooZaairy
rbteruastul pamphlets,iiialtlafooaffte g 150 volumes by purchase: The
ine
tdd. expedition ?lift
rau.rnaFd e. r
lt,
Burke,. the late
ei„nocr Central
tkuvAr
West-
ern ern Australia; and of that jointly Gregory,
by
Col. Sarci, Capt. Blakeston, Dr. Barton, and the
Rev. Mr. Schereschewsky up the Yan
had been duly reported to the society.
g-tze-Kiang,
y- Accounts
of the progress of the East African expedition
under Captains Spake and Grant, and of the auxi-
liary one under Consul Petherick up the White Nile
in support of it, had also been received, as well as
of the continued searches and explorations of the
society's naedallist7'the enterprising Dr. Living.
atone. The indefatigable Captain R. Burton was
also extending the knowledge of Western Africa
from his present quarters at Fernando Po. Th©
founder's gold medal had been awarded to the re-
presentative of the late R. O'Hara Burke, in re-
membrance of that gallant explorer, who, with his
companion, Wills, perished ternafaving traversed
the continent of Australia from hto north; and
the patron's gold medal to Captain Thomas Blake-
ston, of the Royal Artillery, for his survey of the
river Yang-tze-Kiang, from Ys-thou to Ping-shant
dthihneAaceitlxru.updin
extending 900 miles beyond the farthest point pre-
viously reached by Englishmen. The council had
also awarded to Mr. John King, the sole survivor
of the expedition under Burke, a gold watch, with
a suitable inscription, as a recompense for his faith-
ful and meritorious conduct.
Lord ASHBURTON, in a few appropriate preli-
minary sentences, handed the medal to the Duke of
Newcastle, to be forwarded by him to the nearest
surviving relative of Mr. Burke.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE expressed his willing-
' ness to undertake the task, and remarked that these
medals were conferred, not by a body of private
gentlemen, but by the Crown, throngh the instru-
mentality of the society. But the medals themselves
received much additional value from the fact that
they came through gentlemen of science, who knew
the nature of the services for which they were
awarded. The noble duke passed a high eulogium
upon the character and exertions of Mr. Burke: and
assured the society of the great wish he had always
to pay the most respectful attention to the aeggeo-
tions of the society.
Lord ASHBURTON then presented to the duke
watch for King, without whom they would have
been ignorant of Burke's successes.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said he should feel the
greatest pleasure in transmitting the watch to sing,
who, he believed, was still in the colony. The
Marseilles mail would leave that day, and he would
send it at once.
Sir R. 111nRcuisoN announced that the Govern-
ment of Victoria had granted King a pension for
life. Ho suggested that the portion of Australia
explored by Mr. Burke should be called Burke's
Land.
The PRESIDENT then read his address on the pro-
gress of geographical science;