History of Astronomy for the Year 1 803 . 3 1 



of the whole southern coast, which is owing entirely to 

 France, has been completed. 



Captain Hamelin set out from Port Jackson on the 19th 

 of November 1802. On the 9th of December he separated 

 from Captain Baudin to return to France with a collection 

 of natural history and curious animals, an account of which 

 has been giveu to the Institute by M. Lacepede. This phi- 

 losopher is of opinion, that there must be in the midst of 

 this immense country a sea like the Caspian ; but no infor- 

 mation has yet been obtained in regard to the interior parts 

 of it. 



Bernier has sent me an observation of the transit of Mer- 

 cury, made at New Holland. He concludes his letter by 

 saying, " I beg of you, my dear master, not to forget your 

 pupil, who, at the extremities of the world, renews to you 

 the assurances of lasting respect and gratitude." In this 

 manner my ardent zeal for astronomy has sometimes pro- 

 cured to me great enjoyment, in which self-love is not the 

 least sensation, but it is not the only one. 



This long voyage to New Holland is not the only one of 

 which I have to speak : — On the 9th of August two Kussian 

 ships, the Hope and the Neva, captain Rasanon, set out on 

 a voyage round the world. They will proceed to Brasil, 

 Chili, the South Sea, Japan, and to China. There are on 

 board naturalists and artists, who will enlarge geography 

 and natural history. 



Captain Krusenstern, destined to circumnavigate the 

 globe, has received from the emperor of Russia an estate 

 worth three thousand rubles per annum. The minister, 

 count Romanzof, has requested from M. Von Zach an as- 

 tronomer for the expedition. 



The astronomer Horner writes from the island of Tene- 

 riffe, October 25th, " Baron Von Humboldt, one of the 

 most learned and most intrepid travellers that ever existed, 

 after having visited the unknown parts of South America, 

 says, in a letter dated November 2.)th, 1802, that he had 

 traversed the snows of the Cordillera, to go to the province 

 of Quito. On fhe 23d of June 1802, he w ? as at Pinchincha 

 and Chimborazo, at the height of 3015 toises, which is 

 only 236 toises below the summit. No person was ever at 

 such a height before; the blood issued from his eyes and his 

 lips ; he experienced retching, and an uneasiness which 

 continued several days after this terrible journey. " Yes- 

 terday M. Dclambre received a letter of the 19th of July, 

 from Mexico : — With M. Bonplan he has formed a herhal 

 #f si* thousand plants. He has been of equal use to geo- 



graphy. 



it 



