36S Geographical Collections^ 



Estimates for draining the Lake of Haarlem — The Lake of Haarlem, proi 

 perly so called, has only existed since the 16th century ; before that time, a 

 great marsh, known in the country by the name of Harlemmer-meer, occupied 

 nearly the centre of the present lake. It is also well established that the village 

 of Vijfhuizen, and all the lands that separate the Spirnigs-meer, the Harlemmer- 

 meer, the Ouder-meer, and the Leidsche-meer, were swallowed up, so that the 

 four lakes formed from that time only one sheet of water, which now bears the 

 name of the Lake of Haarlem. The Dutch government appeared disposed a few 

 years ago to order the draining of this great lake, and the question excited a live- 

 ly discussion. M. de Stappers has just published a pamphlet in 8vo. on the 

 means to be employed in the drainage, and on the probable expense of such an 

 undertaking. The author conceives that the dykes alone would cost annually 

 30,000 florins. Several projects of drainage have been made. 



Florins. 



In 1640, Engineer Leeghwater valued this enterprize at . 3,600,000 



1769, Goudrian and Glenkenberg, at ... . 9,000,000 



1808, Blanken Jantz, at 8,000,000 



1820, Baron Van Lynden, at . . . . ♦ 7,000,000 



And, lastly, M. de Stappers not only proposes to drain the lake 

 and some neighbouring marshes, but to construct conduct- 

 ing canals, for ........ 6,000,000 



Correction of the Longitude of Orchilla, one of the Little Antilles, or Lee- 

 ward Islands, By J. A. Macwhirteb, Esq We have been favoured with 



the following extract from a MS. " Voyage to Cura9ao," by our friend Mr. Mac- 

 whirter, which we trust will in future aJSbrd much interesting information to our 

 readers : — 



" I am not aware that the small group of islands called in our maps the " Little 

 Antilles," has ever been accurately described by any author. It consists of eight 

 islands, viz. Margarita, Isla Blanca, Tortuga, Orchilla, Aves, Buen Ayre, Cura- 

 sao, and Aruba, extending in aline of about W. by N. from Margarita, from the 

 longitude of about 64° 45' to 71° west; and latitude of 10° 45', to 12° 12' N^ 

 The first of the group has lately been better known from its having been the ren- 

 dezvous for the cruizers and privateers of the Independents of Venezuela, at the 

 beginning of their contest with Spain ; and much, which is unknown to me, may 

 have been written about it, as well as the other members of the group, by those 

 who entered into the Columbian service. But there is one fact, connected with the 

 position of the Island of Orchilla, the fourth in the group, which appears to me 

 to deserve every publicity. 



" In some of the best charts, published prior to the year 1820, the position of 

 Orchilla was stated to be 11° 51' N. and 65° 5' W., which was no less than 

 58' of longitude wrong ; and, in consequence of this error, when I passed the is- 

 land early in that year, a large vessel, at least 400 tons, was lying a complete 

 wreck. The latitude is sufficiently correct ; but the true longitude, as ascertained 

 by two sets of accurate lunar observations taken by myself, with two good chro. 

 nometers of my own, and also by two sets of lunars by the captain of the vessel, 

 is 66° 2' 15" W., making a difference in the position of the island of 67' 15" 

 of longitude further to the eastward than it really is, and leading to the already- 

 mentioned unfortunate result. On my return to Britain, the year afterwards, I 

 communicated this information to Mr. Norie of London, as well as the Spanish 

 chart I possessed of that coast and adjacent islands, and I hope the error has 

 since been corrected. If it has not, your work will make it known." 



