TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 153 



regions where the restless activity of geographical discoverers is at work filling up 

 the vast spaces of terra incognita which still exist on oiu- best maps. We may 

 not this year hope to hear statements of such importance as at former Meetings, 

 when Livingstone, Speke, Baker, or Palgrave enchained the attention of the Asso- 

 ciation with their narratives of their then recent discoveries. Still I believe there 

 are gentlemen present who will satisfy you that the spirit of research is not less 

 active now than in former years, and that every season brings additions to our 

 stock of geographical knowledge which, in the aggregate, are of vast importance._ 



There are amongst us, I am glad to hear, more than one geographer who will 

 represent that vast Russian Empire, whose territories extend in so many directions 

 into regions comparatively unknown, and whose Government has long been so 

 honourably distinguished "by the aid it has aftbrded to geographical science. It 

 may I believe be truly said "that along the line of thousands of leagues which form 

 the' southern boundary of the Russian Empire in Asia, there are scarcely a hundred 

 miles regarding which our knowledge is as complete as could be desired ; and 

 almost eveiy Government official employed on the frontier, and every trader who 

 crosses it, has the means of adding important information to our stock of ascer- 

 tained geographical facts. 



An increasing share of public attention has of late been directed to those regions 

 where the southern frontier line of the Russian Empire approaches the northern 

 limits of our own Indian Empire. 



The vast space which intervenes between our two empires, differing, as it does, 

 so widely, both in physical aspect and in political condition, from these ocean- 

 washed shores of Europe, is a region not unblessed by nature. History assures us 

 that it is little changed in anything, save in political condition, since it was a 

 nursery of great nations, and the cradle, not only of kings and founders of empires, 

 but of trains of thought and of vast systems of moral and political philosophy 

 which have overspread and largely influenced the richer regions of the south and 

 west. What has inflicted on countries once so famous such a curse that the soli- 

 tary traveller who passes through them, as Vambery did, in disguise, is welcomed 

 among us as one just escaped from almost certain death, who has during his 

 whole sojourn carried his life in his hand ? Surely we must rejoice that the 

 thoughts of two gTeat civilized neighbouring nations are at length earnestly 

 directed to this vast region ; that we no longer regard our neighbours to the north 

 and west of our Indian frontier with studied aversion and distrust, as nations of 

 born men-stealers and man-slayeis, all intercourse with whom must be discouraged 

 and prohibited as the only condition on which we can hope to avoid being drawn 

 into desolating wars or embarrassing political alliances. 



I believe that nothing but good can result from the attention of the great states- 

 men of Russia and of England being directed to the condition of the countries 

 which inters'ene between our empires in Asia. As far as we are ourselves con- 

 cerned, I feel sure that the cause of peace and good neighbourhood could not be in 

 better hands than those of the able and enlightened nobleman who now rules over 

 India as Viceroy ; and geographers may, I think, rest assured that it will not be 

 Lord Mayo's fault if he fails to secure that condition of permanent good neigh- 

 bourhood which both empires most earnestly desire. It is the best guarantee for 

 progress in geographical science as in aU those other branches of knowledge and 

 civilization which flourish best in peace, and languish, or maintain but a fevered 

 existence, in time of war or political disturbance. 



AVe shall have among us Mr. Douglas Forsyth, honourably distinguished among 

 those who, like Capt. Montgomery and his fellow-labourers, have led the way in 

 geographical discovery to the north of India, and contributed to lift the veil which 

 has for so many generations separated the inhabitants of Tartary and Thibet from 

 those of India. He will give you, I hope, much interesting information regard- 

 ing the trade-routes towards Thibet and Eastern Chinese Tartary, and will satisfy 

 you that he is actuated by no motive more dangerous to us or our neighbours 

 than a sincere desire to extend the peaceful domain of commerce, and, as a hand- 

 maid thereto, to aid the cause of geographical discovery. 



He will tell you how much has been accomplished since Humboldt, but a few 

 years ago, pointed to a correct knowledge of those regions as among the great 



