150 Progress of Geographieal Discovery 



PL 4. Jig, 1. — A portion of the frond oi Rytiphlcea canaltculatay 

 natural size. 2. A portion of one of the pinnae. 3. A portion 

 of the margin, with the lanceolate processes. 4. One of the 

 processes removed ; magnified. 



Much uncertainty exists in regard to the true limits of the 

 genera Amansia and RytipMcea^ and, therefore, I cannot speak 

 with any degree of confidence of the generic relations of the 

 present plant. Indeed, in the absence of fructification, it is only 

 the mode of ramification, and the striated frond, which induces 

 me to refer it to this place ; for it is by no means improbable 

 that it may be found eventually to form the type of a new genus. 

 The substance is much thicker than that of any species of 

 Rytiphlcea and Amansia I am acquainted with ; the canaliculate 

 frond, too, is very remarkable. 



ART. III. — Sketch of the Progress of Geographical Discovery 

 during the past year, (addressed to the General Assembly of 

 the Geographical Society of Paris, 10th Dec. 1830.) By 

 M. JouANNiN, General Secretary of the Central Commission.* 



Gentlemen, — We have arrived at the termination of a year 

 which will be memorable in the history of nations. The great 

 events which have marked its course, present a character of 

 which it does not belong to me to speak before an assembly, 

 whose concern is with facts of a different nature from those 

 supplied by politics ; though they, at the same time, must have 

 their share of consideration. But, whilst I forbid myself from 

 entering upon the stormy field of politics, which absorbs univer- 

 sal attention at the present day, I cannot avoid saying, that this 

 general occupation of the public mind has probably affected the 

 proceedings of our society ; at which, indeed, no one can be 

 surprised. And I may add, that less fortunate than my three 

 predecessors, f in the account which I have to give of those 

 proceedings, which always require your approbation and encou- 

 ragement, I shall have to traverse a more limited and less 

 fruitful field. 



* We presume that no apology will be requisite to our readers for the 

 introduction of this detailed account of the progress of geographical 

 discovery, to the exclusion of other papers of individual interest. There are 

 portions of this Report, however, which, being entirely connected with the 

 history of the Geographical Society of Paris, it may be thought might have 

 been passed over with advantage ; but we have been anxious to preserve 

 the whole, if it be only to shew how prominent a place this Society occupies 

 amongst the promoters of geographical science in Europe. And we trust 

 that the amount of interesting information contained in the following pages 

 will operate as an excuse for the occasional bursts of national vanity which 

 the author appears to have been unable to control Ed. 



f MM. Malte-Brun, Roux de Roehelle, and De Larenaudiere, who 

 have so ably traced the route to be followed by their successors. 



