322 PROMOTION OF ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC DISCOVERY. 



feature or kernel of his addresses. lu 1844 tliis was tbe Ural Mountains 

 and the jiold produce of llussia. In 18515 he sketched out, with a 

 master hand, the geographical features of the African continent. Ocean- 

 ography, suggested by Maury's charming work, was the subject of Sir 

 Eodcrick's address in 1853. In 1857 he stirred his audience to enthusi- 

 asni by his advocacy of a final Arctic search ; and in the following year 

 he dwelt on changes of the earth's surface. Earthquakes were his 

 subject in 1859, the former condition of Europe in 1803, and glaciers in 

 18G4. In 18G5 he reviewed the work remaining to be done in all parts 

 of the world. The address of 18G7 was devoted to the Aralo-Caspian 

 Basin, and Sir Roderick's later addresses were occupied with the con- 

 nection of geography with geology. After Sir Ivoderick's time the 

 practice of giving a kernel to the presidential addresses was aban- 

 doned until, in 1888, General Strachey touched upon the legitimate 

 limits of geography and, in 1889, on the occuftatiou of the waste spaces 

 and on the supremacy of civilized races. 



The idea of devoting the bulk of the presidential address to one 

 special subject of interest is not, therefore, an innovation, for it was the 

 almost invariable practice of Sir Iloderick, and had been occasionally 

 adopted before his time. As the ordinary subject of former addresses 

 is now adequately provided for every month in the Journal, a mere 

 recapitulation can serve no useful purpose. The fare that should now 

 be served up to the fellows is a kernel in imitation of Sir lloderick's 

 menu, with such garnishing as time and circumstance may suggest and 

 as each president may think desirable. Such is my ideal of the pres- 

 idential address of the future; but I am unable to entertain the hope 

 that I can make even an a])proach to its realization. I will, however, 

 take this opportunity of dwelling upon the subjects which have chiefly 

 occupied geographers during the jjast year, namely, the promotion of 

 further discovery both in the Arctic and the Antarctic regions. 



No less than six expeditions have either been projected or under- 

 taken to explore different parts of the Arctic regions within the last 

 two years, so that the subject has necessarily occupied a large share of 

 our attention. It is one that has been before this society since its 

 foundation, and some of the most important Government expeditions, 

 including that of Sir George Nares in 1875, were due to the initiative 

 of our council. In the long period, during which Arctic work has been 

 over and over again under the special consideration of the council, and 

 of committees appointed by it, consisting of men of science and of 

 varied Arctic experience, distinct canons of exploration have been laid 

 down, and opinions have been formulated which will certainly be useful 

 for our guidance in the future. The council has always consistently 

 maintained that merely to reach the Nortli Tole, or to attain a liigher 

 latitude than someone else, were objects unworthy of support. In our 

 view, the objects of Arctic exploration are to secure useful scientific 

 results : In geography, by exploring the coast lines and interiors, and by 



