The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-14 00:00:00

GEoGRAPHICAL ,suCIETY.

A meeting of this society was held on Tuesday evening,
which was fully attended ; Sir Roderick Murchison in the
chair.

Among the numerous donations to the society since its
last meeting was a map of one of the governments of Rus-
sia, made on a scale of three inches to a mile, in which the
boundaries and all objects of interest in the country are
marked with great minuteness. The Chairman observed
that this donation was the more gratifying, as it was the
first which any scientific society had received from Russia
since the war.

Several new fellows of the society were admitted, and
there was the unprecedented number of 25 applications
from gentlemen desirous to become fellows, among whom
was the Solicitor-General.

A communication from Admiral Sir Charles Elliot on the
exploration of the River Orinoco was the first paper read.
The great importance of that river as a means of communi-
cation with the interior of South America, and the advan•
tage to be derived from the extension of traffic with that
fertile country, were dwelt upon, especially from its vicinity
to Trinidad, which might be made the emporium of the
produce of a large portion of South America. An explora-
tion of the river in small steamers was suggested, and the
council of the society were urged to recommend the Go-
vernment to undertake such an exploration. Several
gentlemen spoke in confirmation of the views of Sir Charles
Elliot.

The second paper, read by Lieutenant William Chimmo,
was "Remarks during the Search in the Toroh steamer for
the North Australian Expedition under Mr. Gregory."
Lieutenant Chimmo's search was unsuccessful in its main
object ; but in the course of his investigations he frequently
came on Mr. Gregory's track, and found records stating
where ho was going. It appeared from these records that
expedition.‘.cltboer
the crew on board the Toni Jongh, Mr. Gregory's ship,
p
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ußivveerr,
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was in a very disorganised state, and that but little could
square
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ship that
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etgar
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s
t
related to the country on the banks of the River Albert, as
that spot has been proposed for a penal settlement. Lieut.
Chimmo's account is very unpromising, though he visited
it at the most favourable season of the year. The 'vegeta-
tion is that of a tropical wilderness, the soil arid, and the
thermometer stood at 136 degrees in the sun. It is, in his
opinion, a country unfitted for Europeans, and the few
aborigines whom he saw appeared to be unmistakeably
hostile. During the search iu the Torch numerous meteo-
rological observations were made, including a valuable series
of observations with the ozonometer, which Lieutenant
Chinni° said would lead to interesting results.
A third paper was read, " On a Proposed Communicas
Lion through North America, from Vancouver's Island to
Hudson's Bay," by Mr. Bannister. There have been five
routes proposed through the territories of the United
States, the most feeble of which is supposed to be the one
through Texas ; but Mr. Bannister proposes a railway route
altogether through the British possessions, and he con-
ceives that it would be more practicable than any other.
other. He founded his proposed route on the opinions7l
numerous persons acquainted with the country, which he
had not himself visited. Col. Lofroy spoke against
for
northern route as altogether impracticable, especially,
a railway. The Rocky Mountains, he said,, present
an
impassable barrier in the north.
Mr.
F:lialssecelirtain the
is
about to explore the country, with a view
best pass across the Rocky Mountains,
said he feared that
s
it would be found that both the known passes
the boundary of the United States. Several other gentle-
men were within
addressed the In,otiug, the general opiniou being nu.
lavourable to the route from limison's Bay.