The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-21
Present State of Geographical Science.

At The meeting Of the British Association at
Norwich, England, on the 10th OF August Cap.
tain Richards, hydrographer to the Admiralty,
reviewed the present state of geographical
science and referred particularly to those blanks
on the map OF the world which appeared to
demand the attention of future explorers in the
interest OF humanity, and for the honor of the
country. The science OF geography was within
easy reach of ALL aud it was matter of little sur
prise that 1t should be one of the most popular
sciences. Wherever navigation had penetrated,
they kne W enough of the shores of the world for
the purposes of geography proper, but 1T was
necessary ln the interests OF commerce and the
lntercommunicatiop of nations tnat they should
be constantly adding to their knowledge. But
for the knowledge OF the physical geography of
the ocean 10 would have been impossible TO have
laid the Atlantic cable. He had no doubt that
as soon as the requirements OF commerce justi-
fed the outlay, similar cables would be laid
until the whole world was encircled. The day
was not far distant when a cable would be LAID
from Gibraltar to Malta, and along the Mediter
ranean and Red Sea, to bring India into more
direct communication with this country, From
India cable would be laid to Australia and
New Zealand, and another to China.
All this required an accurate kno Wedge of
the physical geography of the ocean. Their
energies were being directed to the argument of
that Inference; and he m ght say that by the aid
OF science aud the modern inventions of me-
chanlcal science they were becoming intimately
acquainted with the depths OF every sea in the
world. The bed of the Atlantic was kno vn by
three routes accurately, the average depth being
about two miles. Within the last few weeks
they bad Comuleted the obtaining of full know
lege OF the depths of the Indian Ocean between
the Red Sea aud Bombay, and in various other
places, and the depth was found to be not more
than tw1 miles. They bad also very recently
obtained The necessary knowledge of the depths
of the oceau between India and China, and be-
tween the Cape of Good Hope and the Equator
the maximum depth in the latter case being q
little over three miles. These were great
achievements, second 10 none in Importance,
and in view of their practical results the AdmI-
rally had prepared charts OF the physical fea-
lures of the Atlantic Ocean, and he trusted that
they would be followed by charts of every other
ocean in the world.
The darker side of the picture was to be found
in Africa, Central Asia, and Australia, and that
sealed book III the north OF Europe which lay
almost at their own doors. The mind almost
failed TO contemplate the great problems which
were yet to be solved. 1t sckened the mind to
see how com paratively little they had learned
from the great and self-denying and selfsacri
fcing efforts OF explorers: Scarcely more than
corner OF Australia could be said to be fairly
occupied. Of a great proportion Of the interior
they knew httle more than they did when Cork
first visited its shores hundred years ago.
There was here an almost unlimited field
for zeal and enterprise, and the time has come
when combined effort should be made to
remove a great reproach from the science of
geography.
In referring to Africa he pointed out the
results of the labors of Livingstone. For the
last two years and half he had been wander
ing almost single handed 10 carry out the object
to which he had devoted his life, namely, the
extinction of slavery and the regeneration OF
the race Of Africa. (LoUd applause.) With
reference to the fate of Livingstone there was q
great mist in the public mind and much cause
for the anxiety which was elt, as he had been
only once heard of within the two and half
years, and that eighteen months ago. II he wa,
spared TO return to this country, he believed he
would feturn, not by the Mediterranean, as
some thought, but by the way he went. The
absence OF Sir Roderick Murchison which they
all regretted (hear, hear) was caused by
illness. Sir Ro1erck had written
letter from Germany, in which
he said, II beg you will tell the section that
nothing except the necessity that l am placed
under of coming to Germany for the recovery of
my strength would have induced me to be alb
sent. bave attended the meetings OF the British
Association for thirty-two years. Sir Roderick
might in fact, be said to have founded the sec
tion. [Applause.l The great hope OF his (Sir Il.
Murchison's) life was TO welcome home once
more his friend Livingstone--a hope in which
they all heartily joined. Applause.l The Pre-
sident then referred 10 the subject of polar dis
covery. He trusted that further efforts would
be made to discover the North Pole. 1t was
matter for the nation-Dot, as some held, for
the Admiralty. He regarded it as being as much
public question as the irish church laughter
and applausel; and he believed il it were only
canvassed, it would have as much effect upon
the elections [renewed laughterl in all places
where geographers possessed the franchise to
any extent.