658 EEPORT — 1889. 



prise and prosperity of this great mercantile centre of the north of England. And 

 the old churches of Jarrow and Monkwearmouth bear further testimony to the 

 fact that, as commerce drew together communities which became centres of maritime 

 energy and progress, religion was not forgotten, and the seed of knowledge and 

 truth thus sown in the early history of the past has spread itself throughout the 

 length and breadth of the great colonial empire of Greater Britain. 



Following on the discoveries of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and 

 the marvellous results to which they have given birth, the story of oiu- own times, 

 from a geographical point of view, is quite as wonderful. As I remarked at the 

 beo-iuning of this paper, the discovery of steam as a motive power has brought 

 the world into an extraordinary condition of contactiveness, and quite recently several 

 new companies have been formed in the same spirit and on the same lines as those 

 followed by the old Merchant Adventurers. These later creations are being started 

 under more favourable conditions than their predecessors, for they have all the ad- 

 vantages which modern science and modern appliances can afford. The English 

 Government have wisely encouraged and promoted the formation of these trading 

 corporations. In countries where climate and circumstances of environment are 

 not favourable to colonisation by white men, our colonial system of government 

 progresses somewhat slowly. It has not the elasticity, nor the adaptability, to 

 provide for the many contingencies which must naturally arise when a few white 

 men maintain the position of rulers over large areas peopled by savage and un- 

 civilised races. 



In the island of Borneo there is the North Borneo Company trading, governing, 

 and civilising a large portion of territory with marked success. 



On the west coast of Africa, the Royal Niger Company is developing tlie great 

 natural resources of that magnificent river, and its tributary the Binue. 



On the east coast there is the Imperial British East African Company, operating 

 in what is known as the British sphere of influence north of Zanzibar. ^ Though 

 not a twelvemonth has passed since they commenced their work, their initiatory 

 proceedings have been remarkably successful, and there is every prospect of an 

 early and rapid development of the territory committed to their charge. In the 

 south-eastern portion of Central Africa, the African Lakes Company have fairly 

 established themselves ; and a new company is now being formed to open up and 

 civilise a further portion of that section of the African continent. 



The establishment of these great trading and governing centres is likely to 

 exercise most important influences. They are, as I have before pointed out, from 

 their organisation and objects, better adapted at the outset to compete with and 

 overcome the obstacles which present themselves to established forms of bureau- 

 cratic government ; at the same time the Government of this country can interfere, 

 in cases of necessity, by the grants that have been made to them of royal charters, 

 under which they carry on their operations. 



A wise control and judicious administration combined with the introduction of 

 commerce and civilisation will, at no distant date, open these territories to the 

 markets of the world, to the missionary, and to the scientific explorer. The com- 

 mercial element of geography also enters very largely into their promotion and 

 prosperity because of the fields they open to our home manufactures. It is important 

 here to observe that, if these territories had passed into the hands of other nationa- 

 lities, but a very limited quantity of British goods would ever have entered into 

 them, and their value, as a market for the industries of the nation, would have been 



lost. 



The establishment of a Geographical Society in this city is of real importance. 

 Its objects should be the collection of information, and the study of_ applied geo- 

 o-raph'y in all its varied branches and aspects. It should aim to furnish complete 

 mformation concerning the geography of all parts of the globe. In Chambers_ of 

 Commerce our large trade centres have, no doubt, means of guiding and controlling 

 some of our most important mercantile operations, but they afford no opportunities to 

 the student, they are not a teaching body ; and there are instances where consider- 

 able risks have been incurred and heavy losses sustained in some of their ventures, 

 simply from a want of knowledge of geographical data. 



