11 FEBRUARY 1882, Page 42

The Fifty Years' Work of the Royal Geographical Society. By

Clements R. Markham, C.B. (John Murray.)—Mr. Markham re- views the progress of geographical knowledge, and makes certainly an impressive statement of the results. Notices of the presidents ant secretaries of the Society are added ; and an encouraging account is given of its present condition and prospects. Thirty years ago it was in difficulties, which threatened its speedy extinction. In 1850 there were but 700 Fellows. Now there are considerably more than 3,000 ; and, notwithstanding a very liberal expenditure (in 1880, between £8,000 and £9,000 was spent), it has a balance on the right side. An appendix contains a catalogue of the Society's publications and of papers that have appeared in its Proceedings.