* * * *
A century of admirable work is well outlined by Dr. H. R. Mill in The Record of the Royal Geographical Society, 1830-1930 (published by the Society and by Stanford and Murray, 10s.). A few enthusiasts led by Barrow, Secretary of the Ad- miralty, founded the Society in the first year of William IV's reign, and quickly gained the sailor- king's support and enrolled hundreds of members. The Society had its early vicissitudes; but for many years past it has done much for exploration and for education, besides stimulating public interest in geography and travel. It is curious to recall the violent controversy of 1892-3 about the admission of women as Fellows, in which the future Lord Curzon led an obstinate minority of objectors and prevented the Council from adding to the number of women Fellows whom it had elected. Twenty years later Lord Curzon, eager to increase the Society's revenue, was only too glad to enrol as many women as cared to join. Dr. Mill's judicious narrative is specially interesting in regard to Antarctic discovery, in which the Society has played a notable part. Among the many illustrations is a view of the new hall at Lowther Lodge, erected to com- memorate the centenary.
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