The New York herald., 1875-11-29
The Royal Geographers In
dorse the American En-
terprise in Africa.
A CROWDED MEETING OF SAVANS.
Sir Henry RaWlinson on Mod
ern Exploration.
Equatorial Africa Being Laid Open
for Civilization.
WHAT STANLEY HAS ACCOMPLISHED.

From the London Telegraph, Nov 16l
The forty-sixth SESSION Of the Royal Geographical
Society was opened last night in the theatre Of the
London University, when Major General Sir H. c. Raw
nson President delivered highly elaborate and i'm
portant address The great interest felt on the
indicated by the fact that though half past
eight o'clock the hour fixed for the
OF the proceedings so early q quarter TO eight
o'clock number of ladies and gentlemen had assem-
bed and when Sir H. Rawlinson took the chair three
quarters OF an hour later the handsome theatre was
filed in all parts and crowded in most Between 800
and 900 persons present the number orladies
being remarkable, and among the gentlemen
several distinguished "Africans and other well
geographers The mention OF Mr.. Stanley's name and
the alusion TO his 'wel known nrepidity and deter
mination" by the President in hts address, elected
more than one warm and significant expression of ap
probation and the subsequent recognition of the enter
prise OF tho NEw YoRK HERALD and the Daily TeIe-
graph met with hearty cheering.
PRESIDENT OBSERVED
that the ortysxth session opened under very favor
able auspices, the list OF fellows and candidates
being the largest the society had known. During
the last twenty years the OF fellows had risen
from / 600 10 5000 Nor had there been any dminu
ton Of its influence and reputation During the past
the society had made itself felt in various ways
They had tho proud satisfaction OF knowing that 1t
owing their persistent and well argued advocacy that
the government became convinced OF the desrabty Of
the Prime Minister first communicated to the public
through the President of the society On another
rent occasion they succeeded in persuading the
government at the last moment TO send
commissioner 10 the Geographical Exhibition at
Paris, an evil of some magnitude being thus
avoided for there be doubt that should have
suffered both in reputation and material interests IT, Of
all the Powers OF Europe England had been alone
represented AZ this international gathering This
Congress attended by all the eminent travel
lers and geographers Of the age, and qnes
tons OF high scientific interest," and importance were
digrua nl of
geographical societies OF Europe taking the chair the
general meetings according to the seniority OF their
spectve countries. Ii found that the London
ciety thus only third upon the st the Berlin
Paris societies being both earlier institutions bat
universally admitted that in regard 70 numbers wealth
and influence and especially the patrons Of
discovery and the guardians OF the best interests ge
ography Al the head OF this department OF
science The President nex glanced at the proceed
ngs Of the geographical section OF the British Assoca-
ton al Bristol particularzng-L Dr. Nachtigal's &C
count OF his memorable journey from Lake Chad
through Baghirm, Waday and Darfur, TO the Nile.
Colonel Playfar's report on the Aures mountains in
Algeria Colonel Gordon's narrative Of his journeys
Turkisan and across the Pamir Steppes In
tion with Sir Douglas Forsyths mission to Kashgar.
Colonel Yue's notice Of South western
China OF special Importance the present state OF the
Brman Chinese question: and others OF hardly inferior
Interest Coming & to matters Of general geographical
| Henry RawliDson continues as folows:-
EQUATORIAL AFRICA,
period has been prominently directed, again TO
the front OF the interesting and i'm
address Of last May ventured to anticipate, from Mr.
Stanley's well known ntrcpldity and determination
being launched into the interior OF Africa
with means and appliances OF the most extensive and
Efficient character it would not be long before he had
resolved the doubts which have existed the first
discovery Of the Victoria Nyanza 10 the nature
OF that great Nile reservoir-that is to whether 1t
was one large sea studded with islands as
maintained by the irst discoverers. Captain Speke
and Colonel Grant whether IL was a
mere collection Of lAgoons, suggested by Captain
Burton and Dr. Livingstone on the strength Of native
info nafi0 "a baen ivad
and enabled, through the kindness OF the pro-
prietors OF the DAILY Telegraph and NEW YORK
HKRALD 10 exhibit 70 this evenings meeting complete
chart OF the lake deiineated by Mr.. Stanley who
The first has almost circumnavigated shores
Cheers The narrative of Mr. Stanley's cruise round
the northern and western shores OF the lake. which
intrusted 70 NJ. Linant de BeIefonds, whom he
h'tesa's capital mission from Colonel Gordon,
has been published in the columns Of the Daily
Telegraph only this morning The other letters
however. despatched via Zanzibar, and published
weeks ago have acquainted with all the main
features Of this most remarkable journey which pro-
coed accordingly 70 recapitulate Mr.. Stanley IL ap
pears did not follow the high road from the coast to
Unyanyembe but struck track further to the cast
PROBABLY the same by which Mtesas messengers had
previously travelled rom Uganda to Zanzibar, and thus
reached IN los days including halts, the southern
shore OF the lake distance 730 miles from Bagamoyo
having fought severe battle with the natives the
way and having also discovered and followed 10 the
lake a river, the Shimeeyu, which rises some 800
miles beyond the Victoria Niyanza and thus
a. Jar as our present % l1iormati1n ma extends
Embarking at a short distance TO the east OF the
Jordans Nullao OF Spoke in portable boat called the
Lady Alice, which accompanied the expedition from
England, Mr. stanley with portion OF his followers
succeeded In tracing the sinuous shores OF the lake
along its southern, eastern and northern sides to
M'tesa's capital al Uganda HIS description or this
very considerable extent Of country-for knew
nothing OF IL before except from native information
is full Of interest 70 the gcographer and would have
titled Mr. Stanley TO very high place among African
dscoverers II his explorations had been confined 70
this single voyage. From M'tesa's capital at Uganda
Mr. Stanley followed the western shores OF the
lake 70 the River Kagera, the Ktangule OF
Spoke, and then 70 have struck across
direct station on the shore Of Usukuma leaving
the southwestern corner Of the for subsequent
explorations His circumnavigaiion Of the Victoria
Niyanza covered about 900 miles, and to have
been verified throughout by careful series Of
tons for latitude and Longitude Pending the examina-
ton OF the register OF these observations cannot
affirm that the positions az laid down the map and
which diner slightly from Speke's positions are
rigdy correct; but for all practical purposes Stan.
ley's deneation Of the lake may be accepted as sum.
cienty accurate and a. great boon 10 African
geography With regard also TO his hypsometrical
observations Is interesting that whereas there
difference Of more than 400 feet Spekes calcu.
aions Of height for the northern and southern portions
Of the lake respectivelya difference which nrst led
Eeogaphers 70 suspect that the lake might be composed
OF separate basins Of varying elevaon-Mr stanleys
measurement by boiling water at his station east
Jordan's Nuilah gave result within seventy feet 81
Spekes observation the spot that the
height Of the Victoria Niyanza maynow be considered
be determined At about 500 feet above the Mr.
Stanley intended, after completing his survey OF the
Victoria Nyanz 70 cross the intervening country 10
the Albert Nyanza whore be hoped, by means or the
Lady Alce 10 make q second voyage Of discovery
round this hitherto almost unvisited lake; but more
recent intelligence from the Upper Nile leads rs TO
pect that he viii have been anticipated In this second
achievement BY Colonel Gordon or by some officers Of
the Upper Nile command as IL appears that steamer
has length forced its way to point above the prn-
cpa rapids nom whence the passage 70 the Albert
Hlyanza u tolerably FREQ from impeachment q
THIS IMPORTANT EEws
Is contained In kilograms Of two different dates IN
August by Colonel Gordon TO General Stone, Chief
Of the General stan Al Cairo, and as an inaccurate
ysme Of their contents only has yet been published IN
England am glad the present occasion 70 have tho
opportunity Of reading 20 you the text OF the docu
ments from copies which have been sent 10 me from
I Egypt BY Sir Bsrte Frere--
nl Telegram Of August 10. 1875.
Inc Arabic text 0f the telegram very confused, but the
contents appear % 70 be A. follows We arrived
near n Appndo They tell that the river nayigaDo
rom here - the mouth OF the Aua In ascending the river
fu1 herre 70 TINS place have passed rapids The
steamer hede has succeeded passing the rapids Of Bed
an ann N reaching kerrie. This arrive
herethat a. Al Appudo The force u the here 10
very great
~ Telegram of August 20. 1875