, 1877-08-29
AFRICAN EXPLORATION,
To THE BUIToR OF THE TIMES.

Bir,-Tho enlightened Efforts Of he King of
the Bylgisns to give a fresh imrn,se TO the tx
p'oration Of Africa-tspecially he central rars
Of The CoLtineLt-abd 10 organize moons by
which the energies aud sympathies Of all the
civil Esd nations Of the world might b. COM
biued in iurtberancs Of a common ohjrct, have
met a ready response from all fbe capitals of
Europe. The first results of The d, libcraticus
OF the Conference held at Il russelS last Aulumn
when representatives from ali The chief majors
and their geographical societies took part,
was the formation Of On "Inttrnational Gem
niFSion' for The Exploration aud Civilization
OF Central Africa, In cunuexion with this it
was further determined that each nation
willing to cooperate should form Natiopal
Commuters to collect sGbecripliOus for toe c2i..
men olj~ct aud send dcleg4' Is 10 tlo commits.
sfon, Ghus cttlatizing as mich az ros>iJle Tho
(fOns made, and facilitating ty 60 operation
ihv execution Of Tie g>solutious Of the Cen.
mission.
Belgium was he fist TO establish . Na.;ol.
al Committee, and toe 8yTea! made iy il In
November lasr, ID ne pejgium to'Gc lur
subSrliD1i0ls s, net win lr, a. success. At lie
ntt'iap he'd iesl month AZ I!rs+cls ot H. i. IT..
ttrrationa, Commission # lie = 'lican as ga.
ten, it T"S |i,tGr'cd HAT, IN addill,r to r
capital sp}SCrLtd fer Investment, ar urtirr
10 sons 20C,t0G flames, re i..utst ,iau,
Vhioh was a. be av"ilable. the asrls income
for employment would be over - Geo tsrcs
for 1877, with every probability ot i~ctr,asa
each succeeding Yea. From ot.rr >~au4i1ies
reports were received t(at National Commit.
tees 10 Cooperate with The International Com.
mission had been lwmel: n AuAtlc.U urealv,
rEdcr the presidency cf AIthduke Rid, lib,
4hn D,iuua bR,i,i-r. i, 1S.ono - -
Count Dc IeSstrS; Italy. President, tie
Price of pleGmout, The heir apparent. in
Spain, President, the King Russia, with tbs
Grand Duke Corslan'iDt as President IIol.
land, President, the Prince Of O~ngp PORN.
ga, President, the Duke If San JA:u,lio.
Swi'zerland, PItsidtnt, N. Bualhslier de
Beaumont. At Berlin, IN response to the
views OF The ruSsels international Conference.
a N.tiQDa! Committee was also formed in
December last, under the title of the Ger.
nan African Society" The functions of which
will be 10 carry out The same utipcts as iAa
international Commiesior, VIII The soi.n
tiic ex plOra'icn Of tho unkncwn regions re
Central Africa 9. The opening 70 Of Central
Africa TO civiliZa n and commerce: and 9 .,e
ulteliOr object, the extinction of the sl.va
trade. This last. it is observed, was also on
the prOeramn" Of the International Ccnfpr. nee
As with The Belgium Commission, a leading
feature Of Tho German operations will be the
establishment Of stations. which are 10 serye
partly as bases OF operations for travellers.
and Ar'iy as centres for the spread of civil.
sstioD and commerce. The German F,nne-
yor has given $4,000 marks (ahout LOCO
f~ranrs) from funds at his disposal. and hopes
sre entert sined Of an annual grant from ihe
Budget. The Cortes Of Portugal some time
ago voted 100000 for the expenses Of an
expedition 10 the Congo, while the Italian
Geographical Society, sidcd by the Govern.