36 



between Greenland and Spitzbergen. there must therefore be a barrier. 

 He was disposed to conceive this barrier as extending from the Parry 

 Islands, across the Pole to New Siberia. Nares's experience shows 

 that this cannot be : but the existence of some such barrier seems 

 presumptively certain, and may perhaps extend from Greenland to 

 New Siberia. What lies beyond Beaumont's Cape Britannia we do 

 not know. Possibly the land is continued to the north-east or east, 

 by islands stretching across towards the aew lands sighted by Leigh 

 Smith. What lies beyond Smith's Cape Lofley we also do not know, 

 but we are anxious to go to see : if, in some form or other, the land 

 stretches away to the north, much may be hoped ; with an 

 adequately organized expedition, much may be done : and it seems 

 probable that it will be by this route that the Royal Geogi-aphical 

 Society will advise the next attempt to penetrate the unknown 

 region. 



In concluding, the Peesidknt said that while he was happy to 

 think that his year of office had been one of distinguished success, 

 he could not attribute this to his own merits, but rather to the zeal 

 and energy of the Secretaries, to the willing co-operation of the 

 Acting Treasurer, to the cordial unanimity of the Council, and to 

 till' inherent vitality of the Association itself ; and he now quitted 

 the Chair with every hope and confidence that the coming years 

 would be no less prosperous than the past. 



The following Repoet was presented by the 

 Tekasuree : — 



