272 SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON'S ADDRESS. [May 23, 1859. 



veyed, nor even the harbour of Hobarton. From Bass Strait west- 

 ward to the Gulf of St. Vincent has only been explored. St. Yin- 

 cent and Spencer Gulfs were partially surveyed by Flinders. From 

 Spencer Gulf to Cape Leeuwin, the coast of the great Australian 

 bight, there is only a track-exploration. King George Sound has 

 been partially surveyed. 



From Cape Leeuwin to Swan Eiver is only explored. Swan 

 Eiver has been surveyed ; thence to Shark Bay, and round the north- 

 west coast to Port Essington, has been sufficiently surveyed for the ■ 

 purposes of navigation, yet hardly, perhaps, enough to please 

 geographers. The islets and shoals lying between Timor and the 

 north-west coast of Australia require to be examined. Port Essing- 

 ton is completely surveyed. Thence to Cape York, including the 

 Gulf of Carpentaria, the coast has been explored, and portions of 

 it partially surveyed, but all of it requires further examination. 

 It will thus be seen that there is ample employment in these eastern 

 seas not only for three surveying vessels, but for double that number 

 if we wish that hydrography should keep pace with the rapid 

 advance of civilization and population. 



America, — Crossing the Pacific Ocean to the north-western shores 

 of America, we learn that Captain George H. Richards, with his staff 

 of zealous assistants, Messrs. Bull, Binder, Mayne, and Bedwell, has 

 completed an admirable survey of Eosario and Haro Straits, and of 

 the numerous islets that lie between the mainland and Vancouver 

 Island, an extent of about 800 miles of coast line, sounding over an 

 area of about 700 square miles— the largest amount of hydrographic 

 work, we believe, ever accomplished in one season by a party of 

 five surveyors. The general chart of these straits engraved on a 

 scale of i an inch to a mile is on the eve of publication at the 

 Admiralty. A sketch survey of the Frazer Eiver, in British 

 Columbia, showing the several gold reefs, by Lieut. Mayne, r.n., 

 and Mr. Begbie, Colonial Judge, on the scale of 1 inch to a mile, has 

 already appeared. 



liova Scotia, — On the east side of the North American continent. 

 Commander Orlebar, with his assistants Commander Hancock and 

 Messrs. Desbrisay, Clifton, and Carey, have surveyed 46 miles of 

 the open coast of Cape Breton Island, from Cape Hinchinbroke to 

 Port Nova, including Louisburg Harbour. Some plans also have 

 been published of harbours on the coast of Nova Scotia, as Ship, 

 Guysboro', and Beaver harbours, each on the scale of about 4 inches 

 to a mile. In Newfoundland advantage was taken of the laying 



