The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-13 00:00:00

Royal Geographical Society.

The session of this society commenced yesterday even-
ing in Burlington House, Sir Roderick Murchison, the
president, being in tho chair. The list of candidates for
admission as Fellows of the society was very numerous,
exceeding upwards of 30.
The PRESIDENT, according to custom, opened the session
by reading an address on the progress of geographical dis-
covery, and on its future prospects. As regarded African
discovery, it could not be expected that there would be
any communications in the ensuing session so important as
those read during the session preceding, yet there was groun d
for hope that the interesting problem whether there was a
large lake to the south of the Albert Nyanza—the ultimate
source of the Nile—would be solved by 1)r. Livingstone and,
other travellers. He thought that the direction in which
the most important discoveries promised to be made wore
Central India and South America. After alluding to the
hitherto unsuccessful result of the expedition of Dr.
Leichardt and his party in Australia, the President men-
tioned the appointment of a committee of the British Asso-
ciation for the purpose of urging the Government to un-
dertake an exploration of the North Pole, and with so
powerful a recommendation. of the object he hoped that
the now Government would be disposed to make that con-
cession to science. He concluded his address by alluding
to the completion of the memorials to Captain Franklin
and Capt. Speke, the former of which would bo exposed to
view on Thursday next.

A paper read by Sir H. an account of an explo-
ration IJnodhinNwna,
was h Rawlin-
son, who made some introductory remarks, explaining the
aipen C
position, politically and commercially, in which the district
rebnytr Mr.al Johnson,
traversed by Mr. Johnson is placed. lie was commissioned
by the Indian Government to endeavour to survey the
country from Leh to Ilchi, the capital of Khotan, lying bc-
between the 34th and 37th deg-ees of north latitude and
78th and 79th degrees of cast longitude. That part of Cen-
tral India, Sir Henry, said, had been visited by very few
Europeans, and by none during the last 100 years ; and Mr.
Johnson's exploration of it was of especial value, as it
pointed out a new means of communication between our
Indian empire and those countries in Central Asia which
had thrown off the Chinese dominion and wore anxious to
trade with India. Hitherto the communication had been
obstructed, and almostrendoredimpracticable, by the exac-
tions of the Maharajah of Cashmere; but in the route
pursued by Mr. Johnson the Government was
friendly, and, after passing a gap in the moun-
tains, an extensive elevated table land, passable by
carriages, is opened out, by which communication with
Khotan could easily be accomplished. The mean elevation
of the table land is 15,000 feet above the level of the sea,
and it is surrounded by mountains, some of which reach
the height of 21,000 feet. Mr. Johnson stated that though
tho governor of Ilchi was very friendly, he strongly ob-
jected to his taking astronomical observations, which he
was obliged to do by stealth, and in that manner he suc-
ceeded in obtaining the principal positions for completing
the geometrical survey of the country. It was with some
difficulty that ho got permission to depart; indeed the go-
vernor wanted to detain him, and ho was offered high posi-
tions in the government if he would remain. One part of
the army of Khotan was commanded by a native officer, a
sopoy in the British service before the Indian mutiny, and
there was some suspicion that ho was Nana Sahib. The
low country to the north-east of Ilchi was represented by
Mr. Johnson to be very productive, cotton being grown
there in abundance, which is sent to Russia. The precious
metals are also said to be found in large quantities, and
there is every prospect of carrying on an extensive trade,
through Khotan, with the Mahometan provinces of China
that have been recently severed from the Chinese empire.
In the discussion of the paper Lord Strangford pointed
out the importance of that part of Central Asia which had
been explored by Mr. Johnson, while Mr. Crawfurd denied
that the produce would be available for English commerce.
Sir Henry Rawlinson, on the other hand, contended that
the products of the country were very valuable, and that
the people would be anxious to trade with us for tea,
opium, and other articles of commerce. Sir Henry, in
conclusion, made same remarks on the supposed danger to
our Indian empire by attacks from Russia through Central
Asia, which ho contended was impossible from the nature
of the country. In that opinion Sir Roderick Murchison
coincided.

The meeting then adjourned to the 26th inst., when a
communication from pr. Livingstone will be read, also a
communication from Natal.

restructive Fire and Loss of Life.

(THIS DAY.)
This morning a most destructive fire, which broke out
shortly after seven o'clock, was discovered by Mr. William
Withers, of the Salvage Corps of Welclose-square, who
was passing by on his return from duty, and observed
flames issuing from the premises. He immediately sent
for the steam fire engines of Messrs. Shand slid Co., who
promptly arrived, and found the extensive premises of Mr.
rage, cabinet-maker, Pelham-street, Brick-lane, on fire,
which resulted in the death of a young man,who was burnt
to deathlAs soon' as the ruins had cooled, Mr. Withers dis-
covered the body frightfully burnt, which was plaoed in a
shell and removed to the dead-house.

Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day•

Market nab Sales probably 6,000 bales.

AMSTERDA3I.—High houses, broad, jolly, and red-
faced, standing now on the edges of quays or at the
feet of bridges, nowin quaint trim little gardens, whose
close-shaven turf is gaudy with brilliant bulbs, or over-
shadowed by box and
yew, but always fringing the long,
whose sluggish waters scarcely
ripple Water, water, everywhere,
y's first consideration, dammed out
by d
vaesq r g
black
k a
n thek s v
ndlet
, barge.
in through numerous sluices,
shallow,anrt
u under
dykes
everybody's
passingace
nar
y d
spanned by nearly three hundred bridges, employing a per-
fect army of men to watch it and tend it, to avail them-
selves of its presence and yet to keep it in subjection ; for
if not properly. looked afterand skilfully managed, it might
at any moment submerge thecity ; avenues of greeen trees
running along the canal banks and blooming freshly
in the thickest portions of the commerce-crowded
quays:; innumerable windmills on the horizon ; pic-
ture-galleries rich in treasures of Reubens, Rem-
brandt, Vandyke, and Teniersdockyards, where square and
sturdy ships are built by square and sturdy men, in solemn
silence and with much pipe-smoking; asylums, homes,
almshouses, through which a broad stream of well-
administered charity is always flowing. A population
of grave burghers and chattering vrows, and the fattest,
shiniest, and most old-fashioned children; of outlandish
sailors and Jews of the grand old type, who might
have sat, and whose ancestors probably did sit, as
models to Rembrandt ; of stalwart bargemen and canal-
tenders, of strangers, some pleasure-seeking, but the great
majority intent on business; for whatever may be tho
solemn delights of its inhabitants, to a stranger accustomed
to other capitals there are few gaities to be met with in the
eity.—Dickenis "41 the Year Round."