THE PROMOTION OF FURTHER DISCOVERY IN THE ARCTIC 

 AND THE ANTARCTIC REGIONS.^ 



By Clements R. Maekham, C. B., F. R. S. 



In delivering ray anniversary address for tbe iirst time as your presi- 

 dent, it is witli a feeling of iiiteuse satisfaction that I am able to do so 

 after all old wounds have been permanently healed over, and after per- 

 fect liarmony has been restored in the society. It was found last year 

 that the rules did not all work so as to give complete satisfaction either 

 to the council or to the rest of the fellows, and some deplorable friction 

 was the result. This has now been remedied. The privileges and 

 rights intended to be enjoyed by the fellows under the charter have 

 been fully and clearly secured to them by the rules; all possibility of 

 contentious discussion and debate has been entirely banished for the 

 future frora our anniversary meetings; and special general meetings 

 will not be called without more ample notice than has hitherto been 

 given, while requisitions for them will be made, and resolutions will be 

 passed by a more adequate number of fellows. These alterations in the 

 rules were called for by the general sense of the lellows. They have 

 removed all feeling of dissatisfaction that lingered amongst us. It will 

 be my aim, as your president, to maintain the harmony which happily 

 now exists by keeping the fellows acquainted with the decisions of the 

 council affecting the well-being of the society, and by using every effort 

 to prevent friction, and to promote, and if possible to increase, the 

 interest taken in the society's work by the individuals who compose it. 



I have long entertained the idea that these desirable objects might 

 be secured, among other ways, by a plan which, with nuich help and 

 advice from members of the council and fron) the society's staff", is now 

 nearly matured. I have drawn up a list of all the fellows who have 

 written papers for our Proceedings or Journal, or have published books, 

 or are known to have a si)ecial knowledge of one or more departments 

 of our science, and to this list additions have been made by others. 

 For the present I have called it a List of Referees, because papers or 



' Address to the Royal Geographical Society. Delivered at the anniversary meeting, 

 May 28, 1894. Printed in the Geographical Journal, Vol. IV, No. 1, July, 1894. 



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