Address by Professor Brewer. li 



The oldest geographical society dates back to 1740, and there 

 were but few, if any, more at the close of that century. In this 

 century they have multiplied enormously. Some of them are 

 general, but the great majority are either local or special in their 

 objects. They have done much to extend and disseminate geo- 

 graphical knowledge, but vastly more in stimulating and cul- 

 tivating a taste for the enjoyment of natural scenery. They 

 followed rather than led the development of the societies for the 

 promotion of geology and natural history, but have had much to 

 do with fostering a love for these sciences in later times. Their 

 most obvious effect on intellectual culture is the part they have 

 played in cultivating a taste for nature, and in changing public 

 sentiment in respect to the appreciation of natural scenery. The 

 contemplation of the beauties of mountains or the sublimity of 

 nature in her grander aspects formed an inconspicuous part of the 

 intellectual pleasures of mankind until lately. Neither in the 

 literature of sacred or profane writers of antiquity, nor in the 

 literature of the middle ages, is there evidence of any such senti- 

 ment as pervades the poetry and literature of the century now 

 closing. No one climbed mountains for the sake of enjoying the 

 grandeur of the view, nor visited them to enjoy their beauties. 

 Mountains were held in awe and fear ; they . were the abode of 

 dragons and demons ; they must sometimes be crossed because of 

 necessity, but were never visited for the sake of pleasurable con- 

 templation until scientists led the way. Before the last quarter 

 of the last century, there are two or three records of persons 

 visiting the Alps to see the wonderful glaciers ; but to the world 

 at large the Alps were dreary, desolate, awful. There are many 

 allusions in literature to this fact. 



As soon as the various branches of natural history began to 

 develop as sciences, mountainous countries became most interest- 

 ing fields for investigation, and began to be visited by scientific 

 men, particularly those interested in geology, botany, and zoology. 

 In 1760, that eminent scientist and lover of nature, de Saussure 

 of Geneva, visited the valley of Chamounix, and the next year 

 he advertised throughout the region that he would liberally reward 

 any one who could discover a practical way to reach the top of 

 the " Great White Mountain." Further, should the attempts be 

 unsuccessful he would pay for the time lost in seeking a way. 



