The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-05 00:00:00

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIE7Y.

The probable fate of Dr. Livingstone and the
watershed of the Nile formed the subjects brought
before the Geographical Society at their meeting on
Monday evening. The first paper read, contributed
by Mr. Finlay, was an elaborate collection of the
observations of recent African travellers on the re-
spective levels of the Lakes Victoria Nyanza, Albert
Nyanza, Tanganyika, and Nyazza, and on the pro-
bability of there being a communication between
the two latter and the two former. It was stated
to have been proved by Dr. Livingstone in his ex-
ploration of Lake Nyazza that there is no river flow-
ing from it northwards, but that two small rivers
enter it in that direction ; and he W.IS pursuing a
course from the north of that lake in a north wes-
terly direction, towards Lake Tanganyika, and had
arrived at only a short distance from it when, ac-
cording to the account given by his runaway fol-
lowers, he was attacked and killed. Mr. Finlay
showed by a comparison of the statements of Capt.
Burton, Speke, Grant, and Sir S. Baker, in their
various expeditions that there was a mean difference
of I,oooft. in their estimated levels, as determined
by the boiling point of water, and that the level of
Lake Tanganyika is probably nearly 200 ft. higher
than that of the Albert Nyanza, discovered by Sir
S. Baker. The inference he drew from that assump-
tion was, that the waters of the Lake Tanganyika
flow into the Albert Nyanza, and, therefore, the
ultimate watershed of the Nile. He WAS con-
firmed in this opinion by the fact that the water
of the Tanganyika Lake is fresh, which, if it were
an inland sea, having no outlet, like the Caspian or
the Dead Sea, would not be the case ; and as it was
known that no great river flowed from it towards
the east or south, and as it was very improbable
such an outlet could exist towards the west, there
seemed every reason to believe that there must be an
outflow northwards towards the Albert Nyanza.
At the conclusion of the reading of Mr. Fiulay's
paper, Sir Roderick Murchison, who was in the chair,
ide some remarks on the expedition which is about
to start to ascertain the fate of Dr. Livingstone,
whom he still confidently hoped is alive,
and he i'i-
troduced to the meeting Mr. Young, the officer ap-
pointed to take command of the expedition, and a
gentleman who has volunteered to accompany him.
Mr. YOUNG explained briefly the nature of the
expedition and the course he intended to pursue. The
boat made of steel plates by order of Government
was so constructed that it could be taken to pieces
when they came to the rapids, and carried higher
up to a navigable part of the river that flows from
the Lake Nyazza, into the Zambesi. He had had
the command of the boat in a former expedition of
Dr. Livingstone, and was acquainted with the man
Moosa who had brought the account of Dr. Living-
stone's murder. That man, he said, was not worthy
of the least trust, and nothing he said could be be-
lieved. Mr. Young expressed great confidence that
the result of the expedition would be to prove that
he purpose.Nyould
Dr. Livingstone is still alive.
Mr. PETHERICK considered the expedition in search
of Dr. Livingstone to be inadequate for i
:s
He said that, assuming him to be alive
be in great want of help, deserted, as he had been,
Jy his followers, and the expedition should have
been on a scale sufficient to supply him with
provi-
sions and assistance to prosecute his researches.
Mr. I'etherick discredited altogether the account
given by Moosa of the murder of Dr. Livingstone ;
its very circumstantiality, in his opinion, tending to
prove that it was false.
Sir R. INluncllisoN said that it was only a tenta-
tive expedition, and that it would he supplied with
everything that was requisite. lie had no fear for
Dr. Livingstone if he had succeeded in passing
through the tribe of Meziti or Zulu Caffres, for 1)r.
Livingstone was beloved by the negroes ; and he had
on a former OCCASIOII travelled across Africa with
no more assistance than he would have when de-
serted by the Johanna men. Sir Roderick expressed
his satisfaction at finding that the opinion which at
one time he was almost alone in maintaining of the
sr'alfle.tyAlolftpher.atu
Livingstone was becoming more gene-
nts recently received from Zanzi-
bar agreed in representing the report of Moosa not
to be the least relied ou, and it was known he had
given contradictory reports to different persons.
Mr. MAJOR then read a paper on "The Disco-
veries of Portuguese Travellers in Africa 300 Years
ago," and he exhibited a large map from the work
of ono of those travellers in which the sources of the
Nile were traced to two large lakes in the centre of

Africa.
Sir B. MURCHISON stated that he had received a
letter from Sir Samuel Baker, in which he suggested
that the Pasha of Egypt might be induced to assist
in the exploration of Central Africa and the sources
of the Nile by the prospect of the annexation of that
portion of Africa to his dominions. Sir S. Baker
thought that the Pasha might, with that object in
view, fit out a small army for conquest and occupa-
tion,ugness to take the com-
and expressed his willi

mand.
After some observations from Mr. Baines and Mr,
'Waller, the meeting adjourned.

THE PRACTICAL JOKING ON BOARD

THE PIKEDE.

PLYMOUTH, Tuesday Night.
When the Port Admiral last week inspected the
Phoebe he observed some slight scratches on the
nose of a young midshipman, who, on being quel-
timed, answered good-tetnperedly it was tin
" Government mark." Captain Bythesea was
then requested to report, and, his letter having
been sent to Whitehall, two officers of the ship—
viz., Mr. Baynham, master's assistant, and Mr.
Reddie, midshipman, were yesterday dismissed from
her. In the afternoon Captain Preedy made a se-
cond inquiry on board the Phcebe, and his report
is now under the consideration of the Lords of the
Admiralty. It appears that the midshipman was a
consenting party to the scratching of the broad ar-
row on his nose with the point of a penknife, and
that the mark is nearly obliterated.
The statemezt about lashing to the gun, tattoo-
ing, and rubbing in gunpowder is totally unfounded

- -- ---
Lord Strathnairn has issued a prohibition of a
custom which " has of late prevailed to a certain extent in
his command," of officers of regiments making verbal ora-
tions to their men when relinquishing the command ; these
demonstrations must not occur in future, .as being " not
express regret at leaving 'the
only in direct opposition to the spirit and meaning of the
army regulations" but also " medium through which it
is not considered,prudent to
comrades they had known so long and esteemed so much,'
or to receive the applause of those whom it is necessary, in
the interest of the service at large, to keep in their proper
place and at a proper distance." Officers giving up com-
mands must take leave through the medium of a regimental

order.
MACKEREL.—The quantity of mackerel caught on
the Cornish coast during the past week was not nearly so
large as in the preceding week ; still the Mount's bay and
St. Ives' boats uaansged to get about 100 tons of flue fish for
the London market, in addition to a fair supply for Devon
and. Cornwall. Good prices were realised, the figure for
numerous lots being 455. per six score. Two large new boats
were launched during the week, and four others are nearly
completed.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

SPANISH FINANCE.
MADRID, June 4 (Evening).
At the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies to-day
the Minister for the Colonies stated that the revenue
from the colonial possessions of Spain will exceed
the expenditure by 100 million reals, which will be
at the disposal of the Treasury. '

TILL KING OF THE GREEKS.
COPENHAGEN, June 4 (Evening).
King George of Greece left this afternoon on
board a Russian steam corvette.

BELGIUM.

BRUSSELS, June 5.

The King and the Count and Countess of Flan-
ders left fur Liege at 6.30 a.m. to-day to await the
King of Prussia, whom_they will accompany as far
as Charleroi.

TURKEY.

CoNsmNTINOPLE, June 4.

Lord Lyons yesterday presented to the Sultan the
Queen's invitation to London, which was accepted.
The date of his Majesty's departure is fixed for the
22d June.