170 REPORT— 1876. 



The general results of the notable African land journey have already, through our 

 parent Society in London, been brought largely under public review ; and at our 

 present meeting mauy details of interest -will be placed oefore you by the intrepid 

 traveller himself. The courage, perseverance, and patient attention to the records 

 of this long travel have been dwelt on by our highest geographical authorities ; 

 and so far it might appear superfluous to join in praise from this chair; neverthe- 

 less it is to that part of the proceedings of Cameron, the unvarying attention and 

 care he bestowed on instrumental observations in order to give those proceedings 

 a secure scientific basis, to which I would direct your attention as being of a high 

 order of merit. 



With this example before us, remembering the country and climate in which 

 such unremitting labours were carried out, distinction to the future explorer can- 

 not rest on the mere rendering of estimated topographical details, but can alone be 

 fully merited when those details are verified b}' instrumental observations of an 

 order sufficient to place numerically before geographers the physical features and 

 characteristics of the explored region. 



Turning now from the results of the land journey of Cameron to those of the sea 

 voyage of the ' Challenger,' we are again reminded of the value of repeated and 

 methodically arranged instrumental observations in geographical research. With 

 our present knowledge of the sea-board regions of the globe, little remains, except 

 in polar areas, for the navigator to do in the field of discovery, or even of explo- 

 ration, otherwise than in those details rendered necessary by the requirements of 

 trade or special industries. It is to the development of the scientific features of 

 geogi-aphy that the attention of voyagers requires to be now mainly directed ; and 

 in this there is an illimitable field. The great advance in this direction resulting 

 from tlie two leading events of the past year, to which I have referred, fore- 

 shadows the geographical research of the future. 



Communications of special value from some of tliose voyagers whose good 

 fortune it was to leave and return to their native land in the ship ' Challenger ' 

 will doubtless be made to this and other Sections. I trust nevertheless, as one 

 officially interested in the expedition from its inception, and as having in early 

 days been engaged in liiudred work, and also, as I hope, without being considered 

 to have trespassed on the scientific territories of these gentlemen (ground indeed 

 so well earned), this meeting will view with indulgence my having selected as 

 the leading theme of my address to it a review of that branch of our science now 

 commonly known as the " Physical Geography of the Sea,'' combined with such 

 suggestive matter as has presented itself to me whilst engaged in following up the 

 proceedings of this remarkable voyage. 



It has been well observed that " contact with the ocean has unquestionably 

 exercised a beneficial influence on the cultivation of the intellect and formation of 

 the character of many nations, on the multiplication of those bonds which shoidd 

 imite the whole human race, on the first knowledge of the true form of the earth, 

 and on the pursuit of astronomj' and of all the mathematical and physical sciences." 

 The subject is thus not an ignoble one ; and, further, it appears to me appropriate, 

 assembled as we are in the commercial metropolis of Scotland, from among whose 

 citizens some of the most valuable scientific investig.ations bearing on the art of 

 navigation have proceeded. 



As a prefatory remarlv, I would observe that the distinctive appellation " Physical 

 Geography of the Sea " is due to the accomplished geographer Humboldt ; it is 

 somewhat indefinite though comprehensive, and implies that branches of science 

 not strictly pertaining to geography as commonly imderstood are im-aded. But 

 this intrusion or overlapping of scientific boundaries is inevitable with the expan- 

 sion of knowledge : and it is difficult to see how the term can be wisely amended, 

 or how the several included branches of physics can be separated from pure 

 geooTaphical science. 



We are indebted in our generation to the genius and untiring energy of Maury, 

 aided originally by the liberal support of his Government, for placing before us, in 

 the twofold interests of science and commerce, an abundant store of observed facts 

 in this field, accompanied too by those broad generalizations which, written with 

 a ready pen and the fervoiu- of an enthusiast gifted with a poetic temperament. 



