Geographical Collectiotut, 435 



ocean, may have been, and, so long as its exact position remains unascertained, 

 is still likely to be, the cause of destruction to life and property. It may also be 

 noticed that many practical observations are still desirable on the prevailing winds 

 and currents, and more particularly on tides, of which there are various pecu- 

 liarities among the islands and along the different coasts of the ocean, concerning 

 which facts and observations are still wanting, for establishing one general theory 

 that shall be found applicable to every part of the Globe. 



" Every accession, therefore, to hydrographical knowledge, — a real danger 



discovered a fictitious one demolished — or a peculiarity ascertained, — ^must be 



of great importance to Navigation, and a fit object for promulgation by the 

 Society. 



" The Committee, however, are also willing to hope, that many valuable con- 

 tributions on Geographical subjects will be received from other individuals, 

 whether on the List of fllembers or not, than those who are thus professionally 

 qualified and invited to furnish them ; particularly from such of their country- 

 men as have permanent residences abroad, from the various public authorities in 

 the British colonies, and from those who have travelled, or may yet travel, in 

 foreign countries. It is not for the Committee to specify in detail the various 

 points of information which should engage the attention of the traveller ; but 

 they may observe that every species of information, connected either with Phy- 

 sical Geography or Statistics, if it have only accuracy to recommend it, will be 

 acceptable ; and in cases where the stock of information, generally, in the hands 

 of any individual, is not of sufficient magnitude or importance to form a volume 

 for publication, if sent to the Society, it will be made available, in some form or 

 other, in its Transactions. The routes, for example, which travellers may have 

 pursued through portions of countries hitherto but imperfectly known, or inac- 

 curately described, — the objects of Natural History that may have presented 

 themselves, — the meteorological and magnetic phenomena that may have been 

 observed, — the nature of the soil and its products, of its forests, rivers, plains, 

 mountains, and other general features of its surface ; but above all, the latitudes 

 and longitudes of particular places which the Resident or Traveller may have had 

 the means of determining to a degree of precision on which he may rely ; — such 

 notices of detached portions of the Earth's surface, when regular surveys cannot 

 be held, are of extreme importance, as furnishing the only means by which any- 

 thing approaching to correctness in our general Maps can be attained. And the 

 Committee cannot, therefore, entertain a doubt, that it will constitute a part of 

 the Transactions of the Society to publish such detached pieces of information 

 bearing on such of these points, as may be thought of sufficient interest and im- 

 portance to be communicated for the use of its Members, and of the public at 

 large. 



" There are many other means besides those now mentioned by which geo- 

 graphy may be advanced, but which are too numerous to be here specified at 

 length. In addition to the few, however, which have herein been noticed, as well 

 as in the printed prospectus already circulated, the following points, may be 

 briefly stated, as being among the most important that will probably engage the 

 attention of the Society : — 



" 1. The Composition of Maps, illustrative of particular branches of gep- 

 graphical knowledge, more especially those relating to orology, hydrology, and 

 geology. 



" 2. The establishment of new divisions of the Earth's surface, formed upon 

 philosophical principles, and adapted to different departments of science ; more 

 especially as regards those divisions which are founded on physical and geo- 

 logical characters, on climate, and on distinctions of the human race, or of lan- 

 guage. 



" 3. A more uniform and systematic orthography than has hitherto been ob- 

 served, in regard to the names of cities and other objects ; and a more precise and 

 copious vocabulary, than we a* present possess, of such objects. 



