160 REPORT — 1887. 



which do not therefore offer a field for instruction in geography in com- 

 bination with some other subject. 



It is unnecessary to insist upon the close connection of history and 

 geography, or upon the importance of a knowledge of the physical con- 

 ditions of the various regions of the world, to those who engage in the 

 conduct of our political affairs. 



Without the comprehensive study of the earth, for which English- 

 men, as a people, have the largest opportunities and the least preparation, 

 physical students would fail to grasp the true character and relations of 

 the various sciences of observation, such as anthropology, geology, botany, 

 meteoi'ology, &c. 



It seems to us that the courses of a Reader or Professor in Geography 

 might easily, by consultation with the examiners, be so arranged as to fit 

 in with the requii'etnents of scholars in the Honour Schools, their esta- 

 blishment serving rather to complete the present University system of 

 instruction than to introduce a new element into it. 



The Council of the Royal Geographical Society are so fully convinced 

 of the national importance of placing geographical science on a sound 

 footing, and of the necessity of some action at the Univei-sities in order to 

 obtain this result, that they have approved the proposals submitted by 

 their Education Committee, enclosed herewith, which they beg you to 

 take into your favourable consideration, and to submit at the earliest 

 opportunity to the proper authorities. 



The length of time for which the Society should undertake to make a 

 contribution out of its funds towards a Geographical Chair or Reader- 

 ship will be further considered whenever your University may be pre- 

 pared to accept our proposition in principle, and to discuss in detail the 

 plans proposed. A similar proposal has already been laid before the 

 Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, and is now under the consideration of the 

 Hebdomadal Council. 



I am, &c., 

 (Signed) Richard Strachey, Vice-President. 



To the Vice-Chancellor 

 of the University of Cambridge. 



Final Report of the GoTrimittee, consisting of General J. T. Walker, 

 General Sir H. Lefroy, Sir William Thomson, Mr. Alex. 

 BucHAN, Mr. J. Y. Buchanan, Mr. H. W. Bates, and Mr. E. G. 

 Ravenstein (Secretary), appointed for the purpose of taking 

 into consideration the combination of the Ordnance and 

 Admiralt'}/ Surveys, and the production of a Bathy-hypso- 

 graphical Map of the British Islands. 



1. YouB Committee desire to draw attention to the absolute necessity 

 of making the contours of the land and of the adjoining ocean-bed to cor- 

 respond with each other. The method of drawing contours on the land 

 at one set of intervals and on the sea at another set is objectionable and 

 unscientific, more especially if the land and sea contours are referred to 

 different datum planes. 



2. With reference to maps of particular locaUties on a larger scale, 



