The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-11 00:00:00

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

At the meeting of this society yesterday—Sir
Roderick Murchison in the chair—two papers were
read on the subject of opening communication with
the south-western provinces of China from the Bri-
tish possessions in the East. The first paper was
read by Captain Sprye, who advocated the route
from Rangoon to Eskok, a Chinese frontier town in
the province of Yunnan. The distance was esti-
mated at 600 miles, but a great portion of it would
be through British Pegu and the remaining por-
tion through Burmah. Captain Sprye read quota-
tions from several authors who had written on
China to show that the province of Yunnan and
the adjoining province of Szechuen abound in
mineral wealth of all kinds, that they are particu-
larly fertile, and that by opening commerce with
that part of China all the riches of the country
might be obtained near the places where they are
produced. Captain Sprye especially quoted from
from Mr. Crawford's work on China to show the
advantages that would result from
establishing
relations with Yunnan.
The second paper was read by Dr. M'Cosh, who
advocated a route from Calcutta through the
commercial
direct
mountainous districts of Assam, and thence by
a more northern portion of the Burmese Empire.
He pointed out several routes by which this
communication might be effected, and, judging
by the published accounts of the great riches that
abound in that country, he considered it would be
an important means of communication regarded
commercially, and that the opening of inter-
course with that part of China would be also of
great value geographically, as it would supply in*
formation respecting a country of which little is at
present known.
A long discussion took place after the reading of
the papers, which was commenced by Mr. Craw'
ford, who protested against being held responsible
for the opinions that had been attributed to hint
He said the book that had been published in his
name had been written by a clerk of his named
Peter Gordon, who had used his name without eel
authority. So far Was he from assenting to the,
opinion that the province of Yunnan is fertile and
productive, that he believed it to be the most barren
spot in the whole of China, and it was known that
the comparatively thinly scattered population
imported tea and rice from the other provinces. it
is well known, he said, that the fertility of Chine
increases towards the East, to which there Was
direct communication by water, and such minerals
as were extracted from the mountainous provincethe
of Yunnan could he procured more readily by
river Kiang.tse-Kiang than by an overland route.
Sir John Davis, Captain Sher. rd Osborne, Ole
Oliphant, and Mr. Lockhart took part in the dis
oussion, and contended generally for promoting
communication with the south-western province,.
of China by the route proposed by Captain Sprr;
Mr. Lockhart particularly noticed the mines
riches riches of those provinces. Though the face of t,17
country was bare, as it is in most mining districi
the mineral wealth is great, and if proper means u
ably
mining were introduce there would most prob 10
be large supplies from thence of the precious metal:lt
and of copper. The copper of Yunnan is at prese
celebrated throughout China,