May 23, 1859.] CONCLUSION. 343 



they long continue such) were merely occupying these islands for 

 purposes of trade and commerce, little notice might be taken of the 

 event ; but when it is known that they possess in those seas and 

 bays a much larger force of ships of war than Britain, the prospect 

 is, I am bound to say, most unsatisfactory as regards the long un- 

 defended coast-line of Eastern and Southern Australia. 



In vain has your old President insisted on this point for many 

 years, in virtue of the advice of naval officers of experience in 

 those seas, on whose opinion he could rely; but he trusts that 

 a sufficient naval protection of Australia — no less than af the British 

 isles — will now seriously occupy the attention of the Government, 

 the Parliament, and the country. 



Conclusion. 



Entreating your pardon, Gentlemen, for the many imperfections 

 in the preceding sketch of the progress of geographical science 

 during the past year, I will now conclude with a few general re- 

 marks connected with the immediate interests of the body over which 

 I have the honour to preside. 



Our twenty-eighth volume, shortly to be issued, contains me- 

 moirs of high interest, which will fully sustain the reputation we 

 had acquired ; and our Proceedings, containing records of the con- 

 versations which followed the reading of the various memoirs, 

 have in the mean time put our absent and travelling associates in 

 possession of the zest with which our affairs are carried on. 



Whilst a true '* esprit du corps " has animated us on all occasions, 

 never did it shine forth in a manner so congenial to my feelings as 

 when the mass of the Society rose to bid farewell to my dear friend 

 Livingstone, and at a few days' notice filled to repletion the largest 

 festive hall of this metropolis to wish all success to the undaunted 

 traveller who was about to reexplore the interior of South Africa. 



So steadily have our numbers augmented, that although the 

 Society seemed to have reached its climax last year, when I spoke 

 of its having rapidly increased from 600 to nearly 1100 members, 

 I have now the happiness to know that it actually possesses 1200 

 members, a number far exceeding that of any other scientific body 

 in London. 



Looking to the composition of this body, I rejoice to observe 

 that it is made up of men of so influential and yet of such very 

 different classes and' walks in life as to ensure a long continuation 



VOL. III. 2 c 



