TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 107 



that lie liad discoA-ered would be able to defy the Old ! — that upou the waves 

 which rocked the frail canoes, irou-clads would fly the stars and stripes, that a vast 

 nation of Christian men should spring from the new soil and people the desolate 

 wastes, that the wilderness should become a garden and the swamps luxuriant 

 cotton-tields, that great cities should arise upon the margin of her riAcrs, that the 

 slave should be rendered free, and that the electric spark should speak in the pro- 

 foimd depths of the Atlantic and hold communication each minute with the West ! 

 — that weary distant West, to which for weeks and weeks he had struggled on 

 towards unknown shores, lost on a boundless ocean, but trusting in a Divine Guide 

 who watched over the human instrument that steered onwards on the grand path to 

 civilization. 



In the short period of 380 years, a small fractional portion of the interval assigned 

 to the existence of man upon our earth, what vast changes have occiu'red, not only 

 in geographical discovery, but by its results ! America has become a giant, an 

 irresistible power upon her own soil, separated from Europe by an ocean that renders 

 her secure from hostile aggression. With every -^'ariety of climate, from the frigid 

 to the torrid zone, with fertile soil, boundless forests, navigable rivers of prodigious 

 extent, and commodious ports, the future of that wonderfid comitry may be pro- 

 gnosticated by a comparison with the past. The first steps of a young colony are 

 slow and fidl of difficulty ; but if in 380 years America has attained her present high 

 position from an utterly savage state, what part will that vast continent assume in 

 the futm-e history of the world ? 



If possible, more wonderful in rapid advancement than America is that extraor- 

 dinary country beneath our very feet. Australia is an instance affording a practical 

 result of that wide theory, that temperature and geographical position are the chan- 

 nels of civilization, and that according to the conditions of climate and the advan- 

 tages of a locality will be its degree in the scale of progress. Within the memory 

 of many who are here present, the now important cities of Australia were mere buds 

 upon the family tree of colonies. Blessed with the favourable conditions of tem- 

 perature and geographical position, they have burst suddenly into bloom. Not only 

 have we that vast pyramid of gold exposed in the Paris Exhibition as proof of the 

 value of Australia, l^ut we possess a more lasting testimony of the importance of 

 that fifth section of the globe in the imports of tcool of the finest quality. This is 

 the most oomplete proof of success, as the locality most favouraljle to the fine-wool- 

 bearing species of sheep is that most specially adapted for the European races of 

 mankind. 



We haAe thus two grand examples before us of the energy and vitality of the 

 Anglo-Saxon race. Great Britain, that at the time of the lioman conquest was an 

 island of half-naked savages, whose explorations were confined to coasting their 

 own shores in hide and wicker-work canoes, has in the com'se of ages fullilled her 

 great destiny, and is become the parent of the East and West. Australia and 

 ^\merica are the two huge children of the old mother, grand offsprings from which 

 must flow the soiu'ces of civilization. 



But in the moment of triumph, when Ave regard these mighty results of geogra- 

 phical enterprise with pride and satisfaction, geography, that all-important 

 science which Ave have now the honom- to represent, whispers this warning in our 

 ears — '' That as aa-c have peopled distant lands, and nursed these infants imtil they 

 have become great, the mother should no longer hold them in the leading-strings 

 of childhood, but that, as stahvart sons groAvn into manhood launch independently 

 upon the Avorld, so should our great offsprin:-s, Canada and Australia, regard the old 

 mother with affection, but assume their position of independence." Geographj^ is 

 the base of diplomacy. There are things difhcult, but possible ; but there are ob- 

 stacles of Xature that are impossible to overcome. The Atlantic declares the inde- 

 pendence of Canada, as no support could be afforded by Great Britain in a contest 

 Avith America. 



It is natural to our insular position that geographical science should be more 

 deeply appreciated in Eno-land than in other coimtries. Our strength lies in our 

 commercial enterprise. Our commerce depends upon our colonies ; these encircle 

 the Avorid. Thus geographical knoAvledge must be an important element in Eng- 

 lish education, as hardly a family exists in the United Kingdoni that is not repre- 

 sented by one or more of its members either in India or the colonies. 



