May 2G, 1856.] DR. BARTH— ROYAL AWARDS. 113 



Tho President then addressed Dr. Barth, who was present, in the 

 following words : — 



" Sir, — The Patron's Gold Medal of this Society has been awarded 

 to you ' for your successful and extensive explorations in Central 

 Africa, your numerous excursions about Lake Chad, your discovery 

 of the great river Bmue, and for your hazardous and adventurous 

 journey to and from Timbuctii,' by which you have aiforded to us 

 tho first really authentic information respecting that important 

 locality. 



" In conveying to you this testimony of the high sense entertained 

 by this Society of the merit of 3"our performances, I cannot overlook 

 the important fact that it is just thirty-three years since I found 

 assembled upon the shores of Africa, whence you started, the dis- 

 tinguished but lamented travellers Oudney, Clapperton, Denham, 

 and Tyrwhitt, all bent upon the same great enterprise of opening 

 out the interior of that continent ; and although Laing, one of our 

 countrymen, did afterwards succeed in reaching the famed Timbuctii, 

 yet of all this party, and of those who attempted that great exploit, 

 you alone stand upon our shores as the successful accomplisher of 

 the entei-prise. 



" If, Sir, the service performed be measured by the difficulty of 

 accomplishment, evidenced by the lapse of time and by the loss of 

 life that has occurred in this adventurous attempt, the award of our 

 Medal must be acknowledged to be justly merited. But you have 

 other performances to strengthen your claim ; for we are informed 

 that your labours have been so extensive, that the account of them 

 will reach over five volumes of matter, which, collected in such a 

 country, must prove of the highest import. 



" Sir, I congratulate you on tho successful accomplishment of your 

 undertaking, and trust that this high tribute will stimulate you to 

 future enterprises." 



Dr. Barth replied : — 



" Mr. President, — It is with great pride and satisfaction that I am 

 here to receive, at your hands, the Medal which the Council of the 

 Eoyal Geographical Society has awarded to me ; for nothing can bo 

 more gratifying to a man who, from love of science, has thrown 

 himself into a dangerous and adventurous career, like that of a tra- 

 veller in the inhospitable and turbulent regions of Central Africa, 

 than the acknowledgment of such a distinguished body of learned 

 and eminent men as the Council of the Eoyal Geographical Society. 

 But it is not alone on my own behalf that I thank you ; as a member 

 of a foreign nation, who will be honoured by the distinction which 

 to-day you have conferred upon me, I oifer you also their acknow- 

 ledgments as well as my own grateful thanks. 



" I shall say nothing on the extent and purport of my discoveries, 

 which have been fully appreciated by competent men, and will 

 shortly bo laid before the public in a full accoimt of my Travels. 

 May I only be allowed to express the hope that, after a great and 



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