The New York herald., 1869-09-05
Modern Exploration in Africa and As1n-
Sir Bnrtle Frere,s Address.

Modern exploration IN Afrsca ana As'"~
Sir Bnrtle Frere's Address.
We published on Thursday last the address
of Sir Bartle Frere, who presided over the Geo
graphical section of the British Association
augural meeting in Exeter, England on the
18th of August. In this address Sir Bartle
Frere did not attempt any systematic summary
of the progress, present state or prospects OF
geographical science generally; but, in briefly
stating the course of the proceedings in his
much interesting information as to the most
recent results of exploration and as to the re-
suits ere long to be expected from the restless
spirit of research which is yearly bringing
additions of vast Importance, in the aggregate,
to our stock Of geographical knowledge
Special allusion was made by him to what may
be hoped from the attempts like that of Mr..
Lamont to extend our knowledge of the regions
adjacent to the North Pole and to solve the
great Arctic problem as to the existence OF
great open Polar basin. He also alluded to
the interesting narratives of recent discovery
by Livingstone Speke, Baker and Palgrave,
although he could not promise that such i'm
portant statements as those by which these ex-
plorers had in former years enchanted the
attention of the association would be presented
at the present meeting He referred, more
over, to the recent discoveries in South Africa,
which would be made known to the section,
and expressed a confident belief that DR.. Liv-
ingstone is alive and will eventually make his
way from the interior Of the country.
The greater part Of Sir Bartle. Frere's ad-
dress was occupied with Asia as an immense
and important field Of modern exploration.
| The vast space intervening between the south
ern frontier line of the Russian empire and the
northern limits of the British empire in India
was described as o region which has little
changed in anything save in political condition
since it was nursery of great nations, and
not only the cradle of many conquering and
ruling race, but in comparatively recent times
centre of civilized, active thought 1t is a
guarantee for progress in geographical science
that the thoughts of two great civilized neigh
boring nations are at length earnestly directed
to this vast region. Mr.. Douglas Forsyth,
who was present at the meeting of the
association, was eulogized as having con.
trbuted with Captain Montgomery and hi
fellow laborers, to lift the veil which has fol
many generations separated the inhabitants ol
Tartary and Thibet from those of India. Mr.
Forsyth, it was hoped, would speak of the
trade routes towards Thibet and Eastern
Chinese Tartary, and give the latest intel
ligence of that enterprising traveller, Mr..
Shaw, who is at Yarkand, special favorite
with ruler and people. Times have changed
since Adolphe Schlagintweit, only a few years
ago, became martyr to his zeal for science
and was put to death at Kashgar. A paper
it was announced, would be read by Mr. Ire
lawney Sanders on the general geography o
the Himalayan range. Other papers were
announced which would throw light on th'
disputed question whether the Sanpoo is the
upper stream of the Brahmapootra or Of thu
Irrawaddy, and on the doubtful course of tn
four great rivers-the Irrawaddy, the Salween
the Camboda and the Yang tse-kiang. 81
Bartle Frere attributed to the French the glor,
of being the first in modern days to traverse
the almost unknown region between the Hin
doo-C Chinese races and China proper. HI
enlarged upon the scientific novelty and in
terest of these attempts to traverse the regions
which separate India from China Nor can i
be doubted, he said, that these attempts ''hav
political and social aspect of the highest i'm
portance. It is clear that the time has arrive
in China when we may witness one of thos
great social movements which in all ages hav
so powerfully affected the destinies of nation
and the geographical distribution of races.
The address of Sir Bartle Frere offered wild
and attractive programme for the proceeding
of the Geographical section of the Britis
Association.