years elapsed before the next meeting was held in Paris in connection with the great Exhibition of 1889. As London still held back, the small Geographical Society of Bern was courageous enough to invite the congress to meet there in 1891. Whatever may have been the scientific value of the Bern meeting, of its social success there can be no doubt, and it may be pointed out that, in the opinion of many whose views are entitled to respect, the social side of these great congresses, national and international, is of more importance than the scientific work, which is the ostensible object of their being brought together. The familiar intercourse which takes place among those who cultivate kindred subjects does far more to promote the advancement of these subjects than does the reading of a multitude of papers. This is especially so in the case of international congresses, during which are brought together men of kindred pursuits who otherwise might have no opportunity of becoming acquainted with each other. Such congresses may serve an even higher purpose. They may tend to reraove international prejudices, and foster among the most influential and cultivated citizens of different nationalities a spirit which may help to promote a better understanding between the countries to which they belong. For these and other reasons it is, therefore, to be hoped that London will not be behind Continental cities in the character of the welcome which it will extend to the thousand or more foreigners frorn all parts of the earth who will attend the Geographical Congress in Juli next.

The Bern Congress was enthusiastically unanimous in deciding to request the Royal Geographical Society to arrange for holding the next meeting in London. The eagerness among all more or less connected with geography in the four quarters of the globe to be able to attend this meeting is so great that it promises to be the largest on record. After the pressing request from Bern, the Royal Geographical Society could hold out no longer, and it agreed to appoint an organizing committee to make the necessary arrangements, It may be stated that, in accordance with precedance, the president of the society will be president, ex officio, of the congress, and, as no name among English geographers is better known than that of Mr. Clements Markham, it is hoped that he will be in a position next July to assume the presidency. The organizing committee have been at work for about three years and they have done all in their power to make such arrangements as will insure that the meeting will be both a social and a scientific success. The council of the Royal Geographical Society will make a handsome con-