APPENDIX A. 
161 
if it should unhappily prove true that the adventurous Petherick 
has lost his life, the Council of the Eoyal Geographical Society 
has in that case assigned to Mr. Baker all the charge which they 
had confided to Mr. Petherick. ^ 
“ Having fitted out an expedition at his own cost, Mr. Baker 
was about to proceed, by the ]ast accounts from Khartoum, to 
Gondokoro, there, as he thought, to meet and support Petherick, 
whose replenished boats and stores he had taken charge of. 
“ Por the successful accomplishment of this task in exploring 
a large unknown region in Central Africa, Mr. Baker has the 
hearty good wishes of all geographers, including 
“ Tour obedient servant, 
‘‘(Signed) EODEBICK I. MUECHISOK.’^ 
No allusion whatever having been made at the meeting of the 
Society with respect to the efforts I had made for the relief of 
Speke and Grant, I considered it incumbent upon me, prior to the 
award of the medal, to read and place upon the table the following- 
protest : 
“THE PEESIDENT AND COUNCIL OF THE EOYAL 
GEOGEAPHICAL SOCIETY. 
“ Gei^tlemen, 
“ Without any desire to interfere with the distribution of 
the Patron’s medal, I consider it necessary in the present instance, 
in vindication of my own character, to state that the reasons given 
for the award of it to Mr. Baker are incorrect, ioasmuch as, in 
compliance with the orders of the Eoyal Geographical Society, 
the relief of Speke and Grant was virtually accomplished by 
11 
YOL. II. 
