The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-13

graphical Society.
The lecture room OF the American Geographical
Society was crowded last evening by an assembage
OF ladies and gentlemen repre- senting the intellect
culture OF the metropolis to listen to an address
ON "Arctic Discoveries" by DR.. Isaac l. Hayes the
renowned Arctic explorer. Judge DAILY, the presl-
dent occupied the chair. This was the FIRST monthly
meeting since May IA OF this year. and the reports OF
the treasurer ami librarian were received and
adopted, giving statements OF the business Of their
respective departments during the interval.
The president than made some ausio,, to the grati
Tying reports received concerning the safety, re-
searches and probable success Of = livingstone and
brief passing euogium on :, - memory OF the lately
deceased Do La Roquet,e ., president Of the French
=. and suggested that appropriate
ioSinr 70 otSer ,mtted to the society. After al
isctuser of The minor subjects he introduced the
denver Post elaborate discourse upon the subject
nans which he illustrated by globes. charts
ancient geography nom the times Of Moses and Ho-
mer. who, he said, were the first geographers,
the Roman Empire he dwelt at length on the over
shadowing importance OF the discovery OF the mag
netic needle From this era modern geography took
It's rise and the age Of discovery began to develop
itself. Columbus led the way to o new world and
then began the struggles OF the nations to reach
Portuguese he'd possession OF every route thought
Of except the northerly passage and the English and
Dutch early started expeditions to seek course in
that direction, northern Magellans Strait. Thus
opened the age Of Arctic discovery In l4o4. by the
Venetian Cabot under the British nag and which was
same nag in 1880 years afterwards proved that
there In truth northern route to the indies but
proved at the same time that It was unavailable Tor
commercial purposes. The lecturer then traced the
adventures Of the Scandnavlans and the Basque
fishermen The northern coasts Of Asia and America
whose existence Dr. Hayes deliberately defined upon
the theory or the oceanic currents. OF the TOW
Of the waters within the limits OF the Polar Sea
we know little, but we can trace one. This sweeps
along both coasts OF Greenland the branch on the
eastern side, after touching Iceland. wheels around
Cape Farewell into san Bay where ns the
the great Parry Archipelago through Jones SOUND
Lancaster Sound and Hudson Strait. Thus uniting
coasts Of Labrador and Newfoundland and wedging
itself IN between the Gulf Stream and the American
coast y finally lost OF the cape Of Florida. The
Gulf Stream and the Japanese current both
flow into the Polar Sea- the former enter
ing by the coast Of spitzbergen and the lat
of these currents upon the climates Of the adjacent
countries we find on the Atlantic coast Glasgow, In
latitude % deg; 81 min, parallel with the coolest
point OF Labrador which Is chilled by the
bered current OF Bans Bay. ST. Petersburg is on the
same parallel OF latitude with the southern point OF
latitude 81 deg. min., with much the same climate
as the European cities before mentioned Water, ne
tered by the land as 0i il was was restless object
Firmly frozen bodies Of water OF any considerable
extent were not known. Baihn'5 Bay and HUDSON
Of ls8O-6l on the margin OF the most northerly
portion Of Baihn's Bay, with the tempera-
his his party, was always Within $50 sound OF " the
beating surf Explaining the different proposed and
projected routes to the Polar Sea- he said he would
give the preference TO the way Of Smiths Sound.
vessel could certainly be forced up TO Fort Polk and
thence would be Afforded, first land as a base OF
and, second the opportunity to COLOMBO party Of
hunters and natives as o permanent support Birds
whale, walrus seal and reindeer were here to be
found In abundance. This was his plan seven years
In concluding. while stating that he did not up
pear as the advocate OF q cause or to prove q
theory, ne expressed Inc utmoss confidence In being
able with q steamer to reach the open Polar Sea-
and was willing again to attempt 1t IN the interest OF
science and for the honor Of tho nation. Our gov
eminent was not one upon which we usually rely in
such emergencies; yet he had thought that the gov
eminent might be persuaded to lend to such an ex-
petition good, stout ship OF the many not now In
use
two hours in delivery, vote OF thanks rendered
the lecturer, and q request made Tor copy of his
paper TO be IN the archives OF the society,"
Japan and the japanese.
Last evening Mr.. George $. Fisher, late United
States Consul to japan, delivered lecture on Japan
and the Japanese at the street Presby-
terrain church to Q numerous and select audience
He said that the name and memory Of Commodore
Perry were well and anectionately remembered in
Japan, and too much credit cannot be awarded him
for his triumphant in opening the trade OF
that country to American enterprise. The islands
OF Japan are several hundred in number and gene
rally fertile and healthy. The seaboard IL stormy
and inhospltabe but there very many fine harbors
to be found and excellent anchorage ground within.
Terrific storms and typhoons arc common to the
waters Of Japan The interior country IL abundanty
watcred, and rich alluval Valleys magnificent wood
and tablelands meet the eye on oil sides. The ca
meia japonica Ia often seen growing to an altitude
OF sixty feet; the acacia, the camphor wood trees
the palm tree the tall cedars the variety OF chrysan-
thums rhododendrons, the orange, the lg and pome-
granate are on every hand and add intense beauty
and interest to the landscape. The summer nights
are always refreshing on the coast. In the interior
tho weather in some places is exceedingly su!try.
80 100000 OF souls. The population OF Jeddo has de-
creased, owing principally to the reversal OF the
ancient decree by the Tycoon requiring the great
daimios to retain largo representation OF their
followers at the national capital; and then there have
OF houses and destroying an immense number OF
lives.
OF Japanese houses are made Of paper. The true
japanese house s opened front and rear at the
more particularly and parterres OF the most exquisite
flowers are trained around tho humblest dwellings,
The Tycoon Is the great temporal ruler OF Japan; he
is Commander-in-Chic OF the Army and Navy; he
governs the treasury; coins all the current money
OF the realm; regulates the supreme, civil and JUDI
cial business and attends innumerabie other mat.
tiers. The accounts we hear now from Japan about
the Mikado being deprived OF his share In the dual
goyernment-the spiritual element-aro difficult TO
rely upon, because Japanese affairs are mystery
thrice mystIned, and Impossible to be fully and
clearly understood and appreciated by foreigners.
There IL a good deal OF dssension among the
daimios on the subject OF trading with the
outside world Some OF them favor throwing
open all the ports, while there are Others
who would forever adhere to the old and obstinate
policy OF sealing up the entire scaboard This very
feeling this subject was the source OF the troubles
which sprung up in Japan In 1868. A strong party
Insisted upon the immediate closing up OF all the
ports. The buildings OF the British Legation at
Jeddo, which had just been completed, were burned
down; large numbers OF angry and excited men
swarmed around those ports where foreigners were
congregated threatening TO trample IN the dust men,
women and children OF the barbarian race. but the
wise and temperate action OF the Tycoon alayed the
excitement and restored order.
The distinctions In Japan between people and
oficials are very great. Caste Is not the same as