14.-Notes on the Lower Danube. By Major J. STOKES, R.E. .. 161 16.—Travels in Siam and Cambodia. By D. O. KING, Esq. 17. Notes on the Antiquities, Natural History, &c. &c., of Cambodia, compiled from Manuscripts of the late E. F. J. FORREST, Esq., and from information derived from the Rev. Dr. HOUSE, &c. &c. By JAMES CAMPBELL, Esq., Surgeon R.N., F.R.G.S. 18.-Diary of a Journey with Sir Eyre Coote from Bussora to Aleppo, 19.-Journey in the Yoruba and Núpe Countries in 1858. By DANIEL J. MAY, Esq., F.R.G.S., Second Master R.N. 20.-Memoranda of a Trading Trip into the Orange River (Sovereignty) Free State, and the Country of the Transvaal Boers, 1851-52. 21.-Account of Ghadamis. By C. H. DICKSON, Esq., F.R.G.S., H.B.M. 22.-Notes to Accompany the Map of St. Helena. By Major EDMUND 23.-Progress of the British North American Exploring Expedition. Under the command of Capt. JOHN PALLISER, F.R.G.S. 24.-On Instruments and Observations for Longitude for Travellers on .. 177 182 198 212 233 255 260 267 315 325 Royal Geographical Society, 1860. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, READ AT THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING ON THE 28TH MAY. THE Council have much pleasure in submitting to the Society the accounts of the past year, and the customary notice of progress. Members-Ordinary, Honorary, and Corresponding.-Since the last Anniversary 182 Fellows have been elected; and, upon the recommendation of the Council, one Corresponding Member-Professor Otto Struve, of the Imperial Observatory of Pulkowa, St. Petersburg. During the same period the Council have to record the loss of 21 Fellows, and one Honorary Member-Professor Carl Ritter of Berlin. The Society now consists of 1316 Fellows, and 57 Honorary and Corresponding Members. Finances.-The Balance-sheet annexed shows a satisfactory increase of income; whilst the disbursements, under every head of expenditure save that of Publications, have been kept strictly within the estimates submitted to the last General Meeting. The permanent fund of the Society at the close of the year amounted to 400071. New 3 per Cents., to which has since been added a farther investment of 5007. Publications.-The 29th volume of the Society's Journal (containing the narrative of Captain Burton's latest African researches) is now ready for delivery. The 3rd volume of Proceedings' has been completed, and No. 1 of volume 4 issued to the Fellows. Copies of these publications are presented to the chief public Institutions at home and abroad. Mayi-Rooms.-The accessions to this department since the last Anniversary consist of 5217 Maps and Charts, all of which have been arranged in due geographical order. The following may be spicially noticed:-Ordnance Maps of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, on various scales; Charts by the Hydrographic Department of the Admiralty, and by the Dépôt de la Marine of France; Government Maps of Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Sardinia, and Holland; Papen's Central Europe, by Ravenstein; Trigonometric Survey of India (11 sheets); North-Eastern provinces of China; Tasmania, by J. Sprent, Surveyor-General; Charts of the Coast of South Australia, and Sailing Directions, by B. Douglas, Esq., Trinity House, Adelaide; Keith Johnston's Australia, published by E. Stanford; and Queensland, by L. F. Landsberg. The United States, by Lieutenant Warren, U.S. Secretary-at-War; Lake Superior and Red River Settlement, by S. S. Dawson; Arrowsmith's Arctic Regions; Canada, by Devine; Algemeene Atlas van Nederlandsch Indië, by Baron van Carnbée, and Maps of Java, MS., on parchment, presented by General Wetherall; also Atlases to date by Fullarton, Blackie, Johnston, etc. Instruments.-In order to obtain for the use of scientific travellers an approved class of Instruments, for determining geographical positions, the Council have agreed to offer "a Prize of 50%., or a Gold Medal, to the designer or maker of the most serviceable Reflecting Instrument for the Measurement of Angles." A specification of the conditions of this prize may be had at the offices of the Society. Library.-Considerable additions have been made in this department by presentation and purchase, the former comprising 623 books and pamphlets, and the latter upwards of 260 volumes. Among these may be enumerated Purchas' 'Pilgrimes,' in 5 vols. folio, a rare and perfect copy, presented by Mr. John Crawfurd, F.R.G.S.; Worcester's large' Dictionary of the English Language ;' Oliphant's 'Narrative of Lord Elgin's Mission to China and Japan;' M'Leod's Travels in Eastern Africa;' Richardson's Travels in Morocco; Holden's History of Natal;' Lyell's Travels in North America;' Demidoff's Russia and the Crimea ;' Crawfurd's 'Embassy to Ava;' Abbé Domenich's 'Missionary Adventures in Texas and Mexico;' Hayes' 'Arctic Boat Journey;' Parker's and Hughes' Manual of Geography;' Reports of Geological Surveys in Canada and India; and the Transactions of the principal literary and scientific Institutions throughout the world. Expeditions. The results of the important explorations of Captain M'Clintock in the Arctic Seas, Captains Burton and Speke in the Lake regions of Central Africa, and Captain Palliser in North America have been duly reported to the Society; and the 'Proceedings' contain interesting communications from highly esteemed travellers in various parts of the world. An expedition, aided by a liberal grant from Government, is now in progress under Captains Speke and Grant, to follow up the recent explorations in Central Africa, north of Lake Nyanza, whilst the enterprising Livingstone continues his researches in the Shirwa and Nyassa Lake districts. Further explorations have also been recently made in Western Australia and British Columbia. Royal Premium.-The Founder's or King William Gold Medal has been awarded to Lady Franklin, for her self-sacrificing perseverance in sending out expeditions to ascertain the fate of her husband and the ships under his command, and in commemoration of the discoveries of the illustrious navigator Franklin; and the Patron's or Victoria Gold Medal to Captain Sir F. L. M'Clintock, for the skill and fortitude displayed by him and his companionsHobson, Young, and Walker-in their successful search for records of the lost expedition, and for their valuable coast surveys, by which our acquaintance with Arctic geography has been greatly enlarged. - House. No change has taken place in the arrangements for the Evening Meetings of the Society, which continue to be held at Burlington House, by kind permission of the authorities of the University of London and the Royal Society, to whom the Council desire to express, on their own behalf and on that of the Fellows generally, their grateful acknowledgments. |