50 years in...

...and Sir Clements Markham reflected on the work so far.

Can be read on the Archive site.

References

Markham, Sir Clements Robert (1881). The Fifty Years' Work of the Royal Geographical Society. J. Murray

It goes back to the founding of the RGS itself.

These propositions were unanimously accepted as sound and true. 

It was then suggested that the objects of such a Society would be:

1. To collect, register and digest, and to print for the use of Members and the public at large, in a cheap form and at certain intervals, such new, interesting, and useful facts and discoveries as the Society may have in its possession, and may from time to time acquire.

2. To accumulate gradually a library of the best books on geography— complete collection of maps and charts from the earliest period of rude geographical delineations to the most improved of the present time; as well as all such documents and materials as may convey the best information to persons intending to visit foreign countries, it being of the greatest utility to a traveller to be aware, previously to his setting out, of what has been already done, and what is still wanting, in the countries he may intend to visit

3. To procure specimens of such instruments as experience has shown to be most useful and best adapted to the compendious stock of a traveller, by consulting which he may make himself familiar with their use.

4. To prepare brief instructions for such as are setting out on their travels, pointing out the parts most desirable to be visited, the best and most practicable means of proceeding thither, the researches most essential to make, phenomena to be observed, the subjects of natural history most desirable to be procured, and to obtain all such information as may tend to the extension of our geographical knowledge. And it is hoped that the Society may ultimately be enabled from its funds to render pecuniary assistance to such travellers as may require it, in order to facilitate the attainment of some particular object of research.

5. To correspond with similar Societies that may be established in different parts of the world ; with foreign individuals engaged in geographical pursuits, and with the most intelligent British residents in the various remote settlements of the Empire.

6. To open a communication with all those philosophical and literary Societies with which geography is connected; for as all are fellow-labourers in the different departments of the same vineyard, their united efforts cannot fail mutually to assist each other.