TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 717 



•exhibited were used in Continental universities, though in reality some of the finest 

 maps shown were found also in the higher schools of Germany and Austria.' 

 Besides maps, there were in the collection globes, models, and text-books, the pre- 

 sentations not being confined to countries visited by the inspector, to whom the 

 task of collection had been entrusted, but from others also ; and these were further 

 supplemented by contributions from British publishers. 



The result of this new departure — if the term be allowable — was pronounced 

 very satisfactory, and at the close of the exhibition, or in the spring of the present 

 year, the council considered what would be the next best step to take in furtherance 

 of their desire to raise the character of geographical study. At a later date, on the 

 recommendation of their Educational Committee, they resolved on addressing the 

 universities to the efi'ect that chairs or readerships be instituted similar to those 

 which were at that time tilled in Germany by Carl Ritter at Berlin and Professor 

 Peschel and Richthofen at Leipsic. In carrying out the resolution alternative 

 schemes were submitted. The council would appoint, under approval of the uni- 

 versity authorities, a lecturer or reader in geography, paid out of the Society's funds, 

 he being accorded a fitting local status ; or each university might join with the 

 council in the matter of payment, and a reader be appointed by a committee in 

 which the Society should be represented. 



Thus far I have referred to the proceedings of the Royal Geogi'aphical Society, 

 and I think you will allow to those responsible for them the credit of moving in 

 the right direction, with a genuine desire to promote a good cause. But the new 

 Geographical Societies have not been idle : Edinburgh and Manchester have 

 shown an intelligent vigour in seeking to popularise the study of geography, and 

 much has been done in both places within the past few months only, which is 

 worthy of permanent record. Of Manchester I can speak with a certain amount 

 of personal knowledge, having read two papers there, and had the advantage of 

 making the acquaintance of the more prominent members of the Society. The 

 movement in a great commercial city such as this may well aid in strengthening 

 the hands of the London Society ; for nothing could more faithfully demonstrate 

 the practical uses of the science under consideration than the fact that it had a 

 centre in Manchester. As to the nature of the recent work there, I need refer 

 only to the Exhibition of Geographical Appliances which followed that in London 

 — arranged by the mayor at an art gallery lent for the purpose. We are told in 

 the published reports that space could not be found for showing all the specimens 

 sent, but that a selection was made, and that maps were the main feature. These 

 were of many countries — English, German, Dutch, French, Italian, Norwegian, 

 Swedish, Russian, American, and Canadian — among the Norwegian being a fine 

 series presented to the Manchester Society by the Royal Institute of Christiania. 

 During the exhibition, seventeen addresses were delivered in the building on 

 subjects connected with geographical education. Every day lectures were given 

 of about three-quarters of an hour each, on the contents of the rooms, to audiences 

 ranging from ten to a hundred and fifty persons. The special Education Committee, 

 appointed with reference to the Exhibition of Geographical Educational Appliances, 

 were enabled, at the close of their work, to report to the Council that in their 

 opinion the object of the Society had been accomplished, and expressed a hope 

 that the impression produced might not be allowed to evaporate, but should rather 

 be ' fostered to more definite results in this extensive branch of human knowledge.' 

 From Manchester the London Society's collection of Geographical Appliances was 

 transferred to Edinburgh, where an address was delivered by Mr. Ravenstein at 

 the opening meeting in the Museum on June 14. 



It will thus be seen that special efforts have been made and continue to be 

 made to popularise a science which has never, so far as can be ascertained, held its 

 proper place in the educational programme of our schools or universities. We 

 must not, however, lose sight of one important consideration. More remains to be 

 done than to institute a chair, a professorship, a readership. It must be clearly 

 understood on what general lines of study we are about to proceed. Is geography 



' See Preface to Catalogue of Exhibition. 



