358 WALLACE'S NOTES ON A [June 27, 1859. 



while we must admit the very great importance of the information we have 

 received from these papers, we cannot hut contrast the knowledge which we 

 now possess with that which we enjoyed before this expedition went forth. 



Fourteenth Meeting ^ June 21th, 1859. 



The earl OF RIPON, President, in the Chair. 



Presentations. — S. W. Silver and Christian Hellmann, Esqrs., were 

 presented upon their election. 



Elections. — The Earl of Airlie ; Major Henry Cracroft ; the Eaii of 

 Elgin ; Captain Philip D. Margesson, r.a. ; the Hon. Robert Marsham ; 

 the Duke of Newcastle ; Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson (^Governor of Hong 

 Kong) ; and George Barclay ; Frederick W. Bigge ; H. Austin Bruce, m.p. ; 

 R, A. Osborn Daly ell ( Consul at Erzerum) ; George H. Fitzroy ; William 

 Fryer; Charles P. Grenfell, m.p.; W, Vernon Harcourt ; and William 

 H. Smith, Esqrs. ; were elected Fellows. 



Exhibitions. — Several drawings and photo-lithographs illustrating 

 the scenery and physical geography of the highest parts of the 

 Himalayas, by the Messrs. Sclilagintweit ; and a Mechanical and 

 Magnetic Compass, invented by Mr. N. D. Maillard, were exhibited. 



Accessions. — Sir John Rennie's work on the ' Plymouth Break- 

 water,' presented by the author ; Humboldt's ' Travels,' * Cosmos,' 

 and ' Aspects of Nature, etc.,' presented by H. G. Bohn, Esq., f.r.g.s. ; 

 Dr. Lange's Map of the Mediterranean, and Stanford's Library Map 

 of Australasia, were among the late accessions to the Library and 

 Map Rooms. 



The Papers read were — 



1. Notes on a Voyage to New Guinea. By Alfred R. Wallace, Esq., 



F.R.G.S. 



There is only one place in New Guinea where the natives have 

 become accustomed to the presence of European and Mohammedan 

 traders. This place is Dorey, and it was there that Mr. AVallace has 

 been residing for three months. He describes the whole northern 

 peninsula of New Guinea as exceedingly rugged and mountainous. 

 A continued succession of jagged and angular ranges stretches away 

 far into the interior ; while an unvarying forest of somewhat stunted 

 appearance spreads over the whole country. He considers there are 

 absolutely no other inhabitants than Papuans in the main island. 

 During Mr. Wallace's stay at Dorey there was almost continual 



