GeographtQal Collections, 123 



Every year we cast a rapid glance upon some of the principal geographical la« 

 hours of your members : to analyze or to judge them would be departing from a 

 simple notice. It requires first to pay a new homage to tlie services rendered by 

 the war and marine depots, by Messieurs the geographical engineers, and engi- 

 neers of bridges and highways, and to repeat that every year science is indebted 

 to these learned bodies for some new perfection. 



It would be a want of gratitude not to mention the continued interest 

 shown by JMr. Becquey, general director of bridges and highways, and of mines. 

 Vou have a proof of this interest in the new publication of the hydrographical 

 map of France, a work skilfully executed by Air. Dubrena, and which will be 

 consulted with fruit, not only by the geographer, but by the individual who would 

 wish to enrich his country with some new manufactural products. 



The mineralogical map of the kingdom, not less useful, is terminated. Let 

 us hope that its publication will soon satisfy the want that has been long felt of 

 a similar work. 



The French Pilot, by Mr. Beautems^Beaupr^, and the engineers under his 

 orders, is one of those enterprizes which hydrography and humanity will receive 

 with equal gratitude. 



The universal atlas of ancient and modem geography, that Mr. L^ie is pub- 

 lishing, is got up with the greatest care, and the execution deserves the highest 

 praise. 



fllr. Denaix is pursuing, with a perseverance that has no other impulse tlian 

 his love of science, his essays on methodical and comparative geography. 



We are indebted to Mr. Jomard for two maps of ancient and modern Egypt, 

 founded on the great topographical map of the country, in which he assisted as 

 engineer. One represents Egypt and a part of the adjacent countries, the other, 

 containing Lower Egypt, traces particularly the ancient mouths and branches of 

 the Nile. 



Other cartographic labours should be mentioned here. Mr. Vander-IMaelen, 

 known by his universal atlas, has just published another devoted to Europe, that 

 contains more critical accuracy and details, botli better chosen and better arrang- 

 ed. The termination of Sir. Abrahamson's labours on Denmark, is worthy of 

 the first sheets of that work. 



The special maps of Ireland by Mr. Bald, of the department of the north by 

 Blr. Jodot, of the departments contained in Auvergne by Mr. Busset, and of the 

 chaimel (manche) by BIr. Bitouze' d'Auxmenil, have a right to an honourable 

 mention, and to a distinguished reception. Elementary atlasses, too long ne- 

 glected, meet in Messrs. •Tardieu, Dufour, &c. men capable of giving them a 

 useful direction, and raising them to the rank of estimable works. 



An establishment that more especially attaches itself to the publications just 

 mentioned, has been created. It belongs to the Society to state its hopes, that 

 the depot for maps in the king's library will receive all the developement of which 

 it is capable. 



Statistics have also been subjected to the same onward impulse as other geogra- 

 phical sciences : they are more instructive, more conscientious, and more systana- 

 tic. We must place at the head of works of this kind, the statistical researches 

 on the town of Paris, and the department of Seine, of which the fourth volume has 

 just appeared. I regret that the Society is not at the present moment at the 

 house of the learned administrator, the Earl of Chabrol, who directed and ordered 

 this fine work, that they might offer him their merited praise, and repeat his 

 titles to public gratitude. 



The statistical researches on the forests of France, by Mr. Faiseau Lavane, — 

 on its commerce, its agriculture, and its sheep, — on its canals undertaken since 

 1821, — the official tables of its moral state, published annually by the minister 

 of justice, — the comparative statistics of instruction, and number of crimes, by 

 Messrs. Balbi and Guerry, — a similar work of Mt. Jomard's, — the statistical ac- 

 count of the religious state of the kingdom, — the researclies on its population, — 

 on the relative predominance of sexes, — the statistical report on our colonies by 



