362 Geographical Collections. 



Geographical Society of London We have already expressed the high sense 



of gratification which we felt at the first dawn of this institution, destined we 

 hope to be national ; and we now feel an increased pleasure in the confidence of 

 its having based itself on a firm foundation. A change has we perceive taken 

 place in the more active members concerned in its inauguration, and the gentle- 

 men who first met privately with a view to the formation of a society of this de- 

 scription, and by whom we were first made acquainted with the proposed under- 

 taking, have, as we learn from the Literary Gazette, amalgamated themselves 

 with the members of the Raleigh Traveller's Club, and a body of gentlemen 

 famed for their literary and scientific attainments, and their extensive acquain- 

 tance with the objects of the new institution. The power gained by this 

 union in a common cause, is attested by the names attached to the provisional 

 committee : indeed to fulfil with success the duties connected with the varied 

 and complex questions of geographical inquiry, demands no ordinary combina- 

 tion of talent and information. One thing is most certain, that prejudice of 

 every kind must be done away with, before success can be ensured with honour. 

 Every country has its prejudices, but abroad we have met with none more pre- 

 judiced to their tastes, customs, and manners, than our own countrymen, and 

 we do not hesitate to say, that for the high rank which we hold in civilization, 

 we have yet many lamentable errors to correct. 



The national temperament and the genius of the people may be considered as 

 the same thing ; but a nation, like an individual, should learn to know itself, its 

 virtues and its vices, its power and its weakness ; and then the temperament, like 

 an unclean atmosphere, may be purified, and the genius which, strictly speak- 

 ing, a tribe or people may possess, will gleam forth in truly unobstructed splen- 

 dour. The power given by invention or by knowledge will be consolidated, and 

 the sceptre of the natural and lawful sway of an intellectual and courageous nation, 

 wiU be wielded with greater weight over less civilized and less fortunate tribes. 



It will be felt by these remarks that we place much value on the institution of 

 this society, and that we consider that the results will be important in proportion 

 to the energy employed in forwarding its intentions, and putting what ought to 

 be the plan of all institutions of that character into execution. The development 

 which in proper hands these may assume, strike the mind so instantaneously, that 

 it is needless here to give too high a colouring to such ordinary pictures ; but 

 the imagination of our readers, which we indulge by our silence, is not in fault, 

 as it generally provokes a desire for perfection, and one of the most pleasing, the 

 most instructive, and in its whole tendency one of the most useful tasks which we 

 can perform, will be, while marking the progress of our favourite science, to point 

 out the new impulses given by a society that shall be instituted to further its 

 views, and to claim the privilege of rewarding its successful proselytes. As the 

 advantages of novel inventions lie only in their application, so there is nothing in 

 a geographical discovery more glorious than its affording a clue to others ; and 

 hence the wide field of observation and research that opens before us, by which 

 we may become acquainted with the primitive history of the human race, — their 

 dispersion, — the origin and distribution of animals and plants, — the progress of 

 civilization, — the solution of problems in the physical sciences, — new quali- 

 ties of natural objects, and a consequent increase of enjoyments, from new 

 luxuries and new conveniences ; and it comes in our power to disseminate the 

 benign influence of Christianity and of civilization among neglected outcast races 

 of men. 



We observe that the society intends preparing instructions for such as are set- 

 ting out on their travels. Now this is one of the most diflicult tasks which they 

 could prescribe to themselves, one which the Geographical Society of Paris has 

 very imperfectly fulfilled. Indeed, the directions given even by governments and 

 learned societies at remote periods, now only remain as monumaits to attest 

 the ignorance of the times, — witness the instructions given to La Perouse, or 

 compare the instructions given by the East India Company to Dr. Buchanan, 



