Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/5

The Council of the Hakluyt Society have the pleasure to announce a small increase in the number of their Members since the last anniversary. In reporting to the Members the actual state of their numbers, 319, on this the fifth anniversary of its existence as a Society, the Council cannot refrain from adverting to the heavy loss the Society has sustained by the death of one of its Vice-Presidents, and at the same time one of the most earnest and active friends of the Society, the much respected Sir Charles Malcolm. From the commencement of the Society their lamented friend took the warmest interest in its advancement. To him was due the acquisition not only of the names of many of his personal friends, but also of the Admiralty for two copies, and of the East India House for twenty copies of the Society's publications. In addition to this valuable help, his active assistance and influence were never withheld in the still more important point of gaining information or access to documents which might prove of service in promoting the Society's literary exertions.

The Council have pleasure in believing, that the publications of the Society continue to meet with approval and commendation; not only as affording amusement and instruction by their interesting details, but as important books of reference for the English student of geographical antiquity, and the history of discovery.

In the course of the past year, a work of great importance to the history of early travel in North America, and one the details of which have caused much interest and learned discussion among the literati of the United States, entitled, "The worthy and famous historic of the travailes, discovery, and conquest of that great continent of Terra Florida, being lively paraleld with that of our now inhabited Virginia", edited by W. Brenchley Rye, Esq., of the British Museum, has been delivered to the subscribers of 1851. In the preparation of this work Mr. Rye has not only supplied in his introduction copious details respecting the first travellers in Florida, but