166 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
most essential services to the cause of our favourite science. 
The information respecting it, communicated in a circular, 
dated Esslingen, May, 1832, is interesting, and will probably 
prove new to many of our readers, relating, as it does, to the 
voyage of M. Schimper, who was sent to Algiers by the 
Wiürtemberg Unio Itineraria. 
** It was on the 8th of December, 1831, when M. Schimper, 
commissioned by the Unio Itineraria to collect botanical 
specimens and other subjects of Natural History, arrived at 
Algiers, after a very boisterous passage from Marseilles. He 
quickly ascertained that the situation is not so unfavourable 
for a Collector as the Newspaper statements might lead one 
to suppose, and that the annoyances offered by the Bedouin 
Arabs are chiefly to be apprehended in the immediate environs 
ofthe town. The detached outposts of the French are 
situated at about four or five hours’ distance from Algiers, 
and within these limits the traveller can make excursions 
without much danger. In the environs of the town, the hills 
are low, and intersected with small rivulets that are very 
favourable to vegetation. The sea-coast is partly rocky and 
partly sandy, rich in species of Fuci aud marine insects or 
Mollusce. In the distance, fifteen to twenty hours’ journey 
inland, are large mountains, covered with snow; where, in 
the middle of December, the thermometer indicated from 20° 
to 23° of Reaumur in the sun, and from 10° to 17° in the 
shade. Spring seemed to be at hand, for many plants were 
in blossom. It was with the utmost difficulty that M. Schim- 
per obtained a lodging, the town being excessively crowded» 
and the houses, in general, very badly constructed. For 
the first few months he was obliged to be satisfied with a 
room without windows, lighted only by the door, which 
caused great inconvenience in drying his plants, while the 
long-continued and violent rains during ‘the month of Feb- 
ruary exposed the whole collection to the greatest danger. 
The ill-built apartment admitted the rain in all directions, 
and it was only by great labour and suspending the packages 
and bundles from the ceiling that M. Schimper was able to 
