160 REAR-ADMIRAL F. W. BEECHEY'S ADDRESS. [May 26, 1856. 



On the South- West, Mr. Hahn, the Ehenish missionary, had left 

 Cape Town for Walfisch Bay, for the purpose of proceeding thence 

 overland to Mossamedes. It was the intention of Mr. Hahn to 

 settle near the mouth of the river Nourse, or Cunene, north of the 

 Ovampo Country, and thence to make expeditions inland along its 

 course. This river appears to be the shortest and most healthy 

 road to this part of the interior. 



That persevering and hardy explorer, Mr. Charles John Andersson, 

 to whom the Council adjudged, last year, one of the Eoyal awards for 

 his journey to Lake Ngami, has published an excellent account of 

 his labours in South Africa, with a map, and many striking illustra- 

 tions. Mr. Andersson has again started to renew his pursuit of 

 African enterprise, and he also intends directing his attention to the 

 Cunene River. 



Lastly, I have to mention M. Lesseps' very interesting pamphlet 

 and map of the Isthmus of Suez, showing the line of a canal which 

 it is proposed to make between the Mediterranean and the Eed Sea. 



The importance of a ship canal from the Mediterranean to the Red 

 Sea cannot be overrated in a commercial point of view, and especially 

 to this country, when considered in connection with its Indian pos- 

 sessions and colonies. M. Lesseps has shown its importance in other 

 respects, by opening out fresh sources of trade along the shores of 

 the Red Sea itself, and otherwise ; and we can only hope that the 

 project, if undertaken, will realize the expectations it has created. 

 The map is a good specimen of chromolithography. 



If to these prospects, we add results which may be expected from 

 our indefatigable Associate, Dr. Sutherland, who is a resident at 

 Natal ; and from the projected expedition of the United States, vid 

 Liberia on the west — from the continuation of Livingston's labours 

 in the south — from the appointment of Mr. M'Leod as consul at 

 Mozambique, and from the encouragement offered by the French 

 Geographical Society in the shape of rewards for discoveries in 

 Africa — we may hope to see discovery pushed forward in that conti- 

 nent with vigour ; and posterity may possibly witness the resources 

 of this vast continent, brought under the influence of European civili- 

 zation, its geography known, and its inhabitants emerge from bar- 

 barism and slavery. 



Asia. 



India. — By far the most important work in this quarter of the globe 

 that has been laid before the Council in the past session, is that of 



