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



the southern ports, loy which the dangerous navigation of the coast 

 and of Torres Strait and the delays from monsoons will he avoided ; 

 — the importance, I say, of all this information, which we may 

 expect to derive from this Expedition, cannot he too highly esti- 

 mated, whether as regards the welfare of the people, or the vast 

 interests which are involved in this country, with respect to that 

 portion of our colonies. 



I cannot quit the subject of this Expedition without mentioning 

 an instance of rare liberality in the cause of geographical science 

 which was communicated at one of our evening meetings, during 

 this session, by Count Strzelecki. When the North Australian Ex- 

 pedition was first _ planned, and when, owing to the length of 

 time which had elapsed before it started, it was supposed that funds 

 were wanting to carry it out, an associate of this Society, Mr. 

 M. Uzielli, generously offered to place the munificent sum of 10,000/. 

 at its disposal. Another of our Associates, Mr. W. S. Lindsay, m.p., 

 had also previously offered to contribute largely towards the outfit of 

 the Expedition. As, however, the Government have taken the matter 

 into their own hands, these gentlemen have not been called upon 

 to fulfil their promises ; but we must still look upon the offers as 

 proofs, that the labours of the Geographical Society are fully appre- 

 ciated by practical men, and of the zeal that exists among us for the 

 advancement of geographical knowledge. 



In connection with this part of my subject, I next mention a paper 

 by our Associate Captain Stokes of the Eoyal Navy, on steam com- 

 munication between our settlements in Australia and this country, 

 India, and China, and on the establishment of a Penal Settlement in 

 connection with a colony in the vicinity of the Gulf of Carpentaria. 

 In this he proposes a new route through Torres Strait, and to render 

 its various passages safe by the erection of lighthouses and the 

 establishment of pilots. 



The necessity for improving the navigation of Torres Strait was 

 some months ago brought prominently forward by the great body 

 of the shipping interests in Australia, in a memorial transmitted to 

 this country, and communicated to Lloyd's ; and there can be no 

 doubt that the vast interests involved, demand our serious attention ; 

 for whether or not the proposed means of communication ultimately 

 become the direct routes to and from those colonies, Torres Strait 

 will still remain the high road of communication between India and 

 the South Pacific Ocean, and between our Southern Australian 

 colonies, India, and China. 



