Geographical Collections. 49 



Proposals for a New Scientific Expedition in New Holland. — We some time 

 since mentioned that Dr. Lhotsky of Vicuna, had proposed to travel in the un- 

 known regions of New Holland, for the pur^iose of coUecting objects of natural 

 history. Those who are desirous of obtaining shares, are now invited to subscnbe. 



The imperial cabinet of natural history of Vienna, has already directed M. 

 lihotsky to make collections in all the kingdoms of nature, and the royal museum 

 of Berlin is also amongst the subscribers. The counsellor Reichenbach has pro- 

 mised to take a set of zoological specimens for the museum of Dresden, and 

 many naturalists have subscribed for the lichens and the petrifactions. 



The collections will not be exposed to the vicissitudes of a journey which must 

 occupy many years. They will be sent to their destination in proportionate lots, 

 cm the first favourable occasion ; an approximate value being previously placed 

 upon them. 



The following is a sketch of the objects which these collections will comprize : 

 Liquid chemical objects, mineral waters, volcanic productions, minerals, petrifac- 

 tions, plants of every species, fossil animals, fruits, seeds, skins of animals and of 

 birds, lizards, serpents, frogs and toads, fishes, specimens of skeletons in alcohol, 

 insects, crabs, tortoises, shells of all kinds, worms, seals, whales, bones, joints, 

 eyes, organs of hearing, intestines, foetus, human skulls, all the products of na- 

 ture which are applied to the cure of disease, &c. 



The subscribers must defray the expenses of carriage and of insurance from 

 the place of departure to the destination. 



Each subscriber must name a mercantile house, which will address to its cor- 

 respondents in England or at Hamburg, a circular requesting them to receive all 

 packages which arrive from New Holland in a sea-port, and to forward them 

 according to their directions. Dr. Lhotsky will insure the packages till their ar- 

 rival in Europe ; but after delivery to the commercial houses, they must be re- 

 sponsible for all injuries or averages that occur. Three days after the landing of 

 the collections, two proper persons will examine whether they are in good condi-; 

 tion, and fit for their respective uses : the subscribers must then pay the freight. ; 



If Dr. Lhotsky should die before the completion of the collections, tiie sub- 

 scribers will only be considered answerable to his executors for three-fourths of 

 their subscription ; on the other hand, if one or more of the subscribers decease, 

 the heirs must pay their whole subscription. 



Projected Canal between the Rhine and the Danube. — By means of the rivers 

 and canals of Holland, and of the junction of the Rhine and the Danube, which 

 traverse the most fertile portions of Europe, and form an immense internal naviga- 

 tion, the traveller who embarks from the Tower stairs of London, may go to Con- 

 stantinople without putting his foot on land : he may even advance by water to the 

 confines of Ethiopia, crossing the whole of continental Europe ; so that the 

 east and west will be brought into almost immediate contact. In commercial 

 points of view, the utility of this project is pre-eminent : by this means we shall 

 avoid the circuitous and perilous navigation of the IMediterranean, to arrive at the 

 shores of the Bospliorus and of Asia Minor. The packet which leaves the Tower 

 may wind along the coasts of the Euxine ; and if the Russian government make 

 a canal between the Black Sea and the Caspian, we may sail to the foot of the 

 Himalaha mountains. 



According to the principal arrangements of the proposed plan, the course of 

 the Danube would be enlarged and freed from the obstacles which exist between 

 Ulm and Stuligen : the navigation would then be prolonged by a canal which 

 would traverse the Black Forest, in the direction of Kintzig : and lastly, the 

 Kintzig would be made navigable to the place where it empties itself into the 

 Rhine, near KeH. The greatest difficulty will be experienced in the Black Fo- 

 I'est, where it will be necessary to cut a tunnel. 



In the interval of the realization of this great project, adds M. Sueur-HIerlin, 

 (Bull, de la Soc. Geog. Dec. 1829,) the steam navigation is making astonishing 

 progress, and is becoming a powerful agent in the commercial relations of the 

 VOL. II. G 



