during the year 1829-30. "' I5t 



Helmerssen in the south of the Ural mountains, and of MM. 

 Erman, Hansteen, and Dowe, intrusted with a magnetic expe- 

 dition in the same countries. 



We have yet to mention M. Dobell, author of Travels in 

 Kamtchatka and Siberia, who had been previously for some years 

 in China. There are some interesting observations in his works 

 concerning that vast empire, which has frequently been an object 

 of attention with the Asiatic Society of Paris, not only in a 

 philological, but also under a geographical point of view. 



I had almost forgotten to mention M. Parrot, who has visited 

 Mount Ararat, and whose observations have been published in 

 several scientific works.* 



I now come to the consideration of the voyages of circumna- 

 vigation ; and, without recurring to those of MM. Freycinet, 

 Duperrey, and Dumont d'Urville, who are occupied in publishing 

 the accounts of their labours, and who have found in the public 

 approbation the recompense of their fatigues, I shall only remark, 

 that France has at present no navigator employed on a mission 

 similar to that which these officers have accomplished. M. Mathieu, 

 captain of a frigate, was, however, intended for an expedition of 

 this nature, when the attack of Algiers was resolved on. The 

 services of France called him before that place, and he was com- 

 pelled to give up the navigation of distant seas to face dangers 

 of another kind. 



But among the foreigners navigating the vast seas which sepa- 

 rate the American continent from Asia and New Holland, and in 

 which exist thousands and thousands of groups of islands, a great 

 number of which have as yet been but partially visited by 

 Europeans, and which Mr Ellis has endeavoured to make better 

 known by his researches into the natural history, mythology, 

 traditions, and manners, of the native inhabitants, I shall men- 

 tion Captain Litke, who has made many observations in the Caro- 

 lines, and discovered several unknown islands ; and Captain Kolff, 

 a Dutchman, who has traversed the southern archipelago of the 

 Moluccas, and the southwest coast of New Guinea. We may 

 also hope to obtain valuable information from the American 

 navigators, who, although much devoted to their commercial 

 speculations, do not, however, neglect scientific researches. We 

 owe the same eulogy to two Frenchmen, Captain Darlue of 

 Marseilles, who, after having sailed along the coasts of South 

 America, touched at the Sandwich Isles, and traversed the 

 Marians and the Chinese archipelago ; and M. Dussumier of 

 Bordeaux, member of the Society, who, in a voyage to Cochin 

 China, made numerous collections in natural history, since pre- 

 sented to the Museum of Paris, and who, at the same time, 

 appears to have collected useful geographical information. 



It still remains for me, gentlemen, to call your attention to a 

 project worthy of the consideration of the scientific world, and 



* Fide Numbers I. and II. of our New Series. j: • 



