England at the extinction of the Roman Government in the Island; and on Inscriptions in unknown Characters on Roman pottery discovered in England.

21. Charles Roach Smith, Esq., F.S.A.-Remarks on a Roman sepulchral Inscription found in a Saxon vase in the Faussett Collection. 22. Consul Brand, F.R.G.S.-Notes on the Portuguese Possessions of S. W. Africa.

23. Rev. Dr. Livingston.-Extracts from Letters dated Pungo Andongo, and St. Paul de Loanda, describing his Journey across Tropical Africa.

24. Señor A. Poey of the Havana.-Hurricanes in the West Indies and the North Atlantic, from 1493 to 1855.

25. John Crawfurd, Esq., F.R.G.S.-On the different Centres of Civilization.

26. J. M. Inskip, Esq.-An Account of the Exploration of the Isthmus of Darien, under Captain Prevost, R.n.

27. Captain Robertson.-Ascent of the Mountain Suméru Parbut, situated at the source of the Jumna.

28. Richard Cull, Esq.-On the Complexion and Hair of the Ancient Egyptians.

29. Señor Susini.—The Amazon and the Atlantic Water-courses of South America.

30. G. Edmonds, Esq.-On a Philosophic Universal Language. 31. A. J. Ellis, Esq.-On a New Universal Alphabet, composed of ordinary Types, for the Use of Ethnologists.

32. James Gall, Jun., Edinburgh.-On Improved Monographic Projections of the World, with Illustrative Maps and Diagrams.

33. Thomas C. Archer, Esq.-On one of the Coins used on the West Coast of Africa, having an Ethnological bearing.

34. Richard Cull.--On the Manual of Ethnology and the Ethnology of Samoa.

The next meeting of the British Association will be held at Cheltenham.

PRESENTATION

OF THE

ROYAL AWARDS

TO DR. DAVID LIVINGSTON AND MR. CHARLES J. ANDERSSON.

AFTER the adoption of the Council Report, the President rose to present the Awards, and Dr. Tidman having come forward, on the part of the London Missionary Society, to receive the Gold Medal for Dr. Livingston, Lord Ellesmere said :

"After the observations which have been addressed to this Meeting, on the subject of Dr. Livingston's merits, by a Right Reverend Prelate, the Bishop of Oxford, a Fellow of this Society, it has become scarcely necessary for me to say anything in justification of an award, which I know will meet with an assent as unanimous in this assembly as it did in our Council-room. If its further vindication were necessary, I should appeal rather to the eye than the ear. I should point to the pregnant sketches of the routes of recent South African discoverers on our walls; and borrowing from the epitaph of Wren the simple word Circumspice,' request you to search for yourselves, where Dr. Livingston entered on the terra incognita of South Africa, and where, at Loanda, he emerged. The satisfaction with which I pronounce the award of our Society, unanimous as I am sure it is, is only alloyed by the circumstance that Dr. Livingston is not here in person to receive it, as he might have been, but for that noble spirit of perseverance and fidelity to his engagements with a native chief, which has launched him again on his adventurous career. is some consolation to feel that, in his absence, I could not more appropriately confide this Medal than to the hands of Dr. Tidman, the distinguished Secretary of the London Missionary Society, which has found and sent forth an instrument for their sacred purposes, so illustrious as Dr. Livingston. Your character, Sir, and your functions remind me, that if Dr. Livingston has incidentally done that for science which has deserved from us, as a scientific Society, our highest reward, he has gone forth with even higher objects than those which we specially pursue. Your presence here reminds me that his object has been the introduction of Christian truth into benighted regions, and that the means and method of his action have been strictly appropriate

It

to his ends. Within these two days a volume in the Portuguese language has been placed in my hands, the record of a Portuguese expedition of African exploration from the East Coast. I advert to it to point out the contrast between the two. Colonel Monteiro was the

leader of a small army-some 20 Portuguese soldiers and 120 Caffres. I find in the volume no reason to believe that this armed and disciplined force was abused to any purpose of outrage or oppression; but still the contrast is as striking between such military array and the solitary grandeur of the missionary's progress, as it is between the actual achievements of the two; between the rough knowledge obtained by the Portuguese of some 300 leagues of new country, and the scientific precision with which the unarmed and unassisted Englishman has left his mark on so many important stations of regions hitherto a blank, over which our associate Mr. Arrowsmith has sighed in vain. To you then, Sir, I gladly confide this mark of our Society's appreciation of Dr. Livingston's merits; and I would fain hope that our award will add somewhat to the satisfaction, you and your fellow-labourers must indulge, in having selected and sent forth such an instrument of your high and holy designs."

"My Lord,-In receiving this mark of honour on behalf of Dr. Livingston, I can but very inadequately express the gratification which I feel that my intrepid and devoted friend should have secured the distinguished commendation of the President and Council of the Royal Geographical Society.

"When I had the pleasure on a former occasion of receiving, as Dr. Livingston's representative, the award of a chronometer watch from your Society, I ventured to express the sanguine expectation that, if his life were spared, he would hereafter accomplish more extended labours for the exploration of the interior of Southern Africa. That expecta

tion was founded on the knowledge I have long possessed of the indefatigable industry and dauntless courage of Dr. Livingston; his ardent love of science; and above all, his disinterested Christian benevolence toward the aboriginal tribes of that hitherto unexplored region: for I need not inform your Lordship and this Meeting, that, how anxious soever our Missionary traveller may be to ascertain the Geographical facts and physical features of the country, his first and ultimate object is with the people, by introducing them to a knowledge of that inspired volume which is the true source of civilization and happiness in the present life, no less than of immortal hope and joy beyond it. "When Christian Missionaries half a century since commenced their work of mercy in Southern Africa, the native tribes possessed no symbol, or visible form of thought; and the Rev. Robert Moffat and others had to acquire the knowledge of their rude speech, not by the eye, but by the ear; to make the hut of the savage their study, and by a nice comparison of utterances and sounds, to learn, by slow degrees, the thoughts and feelings of the natives. But over these difficulties their ardour and perseverance triumphed; and they have given back to these aborigines, in their own tongue, various treatises on education and

useful knowledge, together with that inspired volume which can make men wise unto salvation.

"Dr. Livingston, in the course of his extended journey, found his knowledge of the Sichuana language invaluable; for notwithstanding the variety of dialects which prevailed among different tribes, he was able to hold easy and intelligent intercourse with all; but, in addition to the charm which the traveller bears about him who can speak the language of the people whom he visits, Dr. Livingston carries with him the stronger charm of truthfulness, rectitude, and disinterestedness -these have secured for him a good name, and throughout his journey, with rare exceptions, he was received with confidence and treated with kindness by the natives.

"I sympathise deeply in the pleasure expressed by the Bishop of Oxford, who moved the adoption of your Report, that this most successful effort to explore the terra incognita of Southern Africa has been accomplished by a Christian Missionary; and I can confidently assure your Lordship and this Meeting, that you will find in these devoted labourers, in every field of their efforts, the true friends of science and social improvement, no less than the faithful teachers of religion.

"It would be premature to offer an opinion on the probable results of Dr. Livingston's researches in the future extension of civilization and Christianity in South Africa; but it is a benevolent and noble enterprise to seek out these myriads, who have remained for ages unknown to the great family of man; and as they are now brought within our sympathy, so we may hope, by God's help, to extend to them hereafter the blessings of knowledge and of true religion."

Mr. Andersson being present to receive from the President the gift awarded to him by the Society, of a portable box of surveying instruments, containing a sextant and stand, artificial horizon, watch, thermometers for boiling-point observations, measuring-tapes, &c., the President addressed him :

"Sir,-It is my agreeable duty to place in your hands a gift of this Society, which, while it evinces their opinion of your merits and achievements as a traveller and discoverer in South Africa, we hope you may turn to account for the further undertakings you contemplate. It will not diminish its value in your eyes to know that it has been prepared under the counsel and direction of your former companion and constant friend, Mr. Galton. It was with a similar gift from this Society that Dr. Livingston conducted many of his admirable observations. May you have health, strength, and good fortune-I know the skill and the courage will not be wanting-to turn these instruments to similar account. The record of your anterior and recent journeys, and the additions they have produced to scientific and accurate knowledge, are already among the brightest pages of our Journals. We have ample proof of your experience and perseverance, and, admiring the spirit which animates you to seek again the rich field of exploration, in which you have won many triumphs, we look forward with hope and confidence to your return, with still ampler stores and higher honours."

Mr. Andersson replied :

"My Lord, I receive this mark of distinction from the Royal Geographical Society with great pleasure, and with emotions of deep gratitude. Those who have never been in similar circumstances can scarcely form a just idea of the intense satisfaction a person experiences on finding his exertions, however small, thus appreciated. I am sure it must also be highly pleasing to my friend Mr. Galton, now present, to see the person on whom he, as it were, bestowed his mantle, honoured in this manner. This award is doubly gratifying to my feelings, since I can only lay claim to be half an Englishman. Once more, my Lord, allow me to thank you for this award, as well as for the kind, feeling, courteous, and flattering manner in which your Lordship has presented it."