during the year 1829-30. j 159 



Bretonniere, and of the insult offered by the Algerines to the 

 vessel La Provence, in August, 1829. M. Bianchi has deposited 

 in the society, a second edition of his plan of Algiers, and its 

 fortifications and environs, with the numerous improvements 

 and changes already effected or projected by the French, since 

 the conquest. Our colleague is indebted to Captain Gibou for 

 these corrections.* 



During the year 1830, the geodesic operations for the new- 

 map of France have been continued on several parts of the 

 kingdom, with the same degree of exactness which the corps of 

 geographical engineers has extended to every thing belonging to 

 the execution of that great enterprize, which will really be the 

 topographical masterpiece of our time. The first sheets, which 

 will soon be published, completel)^ justify our praises. 



It is known, that the geodesic operations carried on in the 

 Pyrenees hy one of our colleagues, (Lieutenant-Colonel Cora- 

 bceuf,) have established, with much precision, the difference in 

 the level of the ocean and of the Mediterranean. The results of 

 these trigonometrical measurements, afterAvards subjected to the 

 calculation of probabilities, shew that the two seas affect the 

 same level, contrary to the conjectures which seem to have 

 hitherto prevailed. 



In the course of last October, one of the vice-presidents of the 

 central commission. Colonel Bonne, was engaged in the astrono- 

 mical verification of the western part of the arc of the parallel 

 which is alread}"^ measured from Brest, as far as Bude, in Hun- 

 gary, and will be extended to the river Volga and to the Ural, 

 This is the most extensive operation of the kind which has yet 

 been undertaken ; for the extent of the arc exceeds 50 degrees. 

 France ought to claim a fair share in this glorious enterprize, the 

 continuation of Avhich she has prolonged, after foreign govern- 

 ments had relinquished it. The execution of the new map of 

 France will thus add new and important information to what we 

 already possess on the figure of the earth. 



I fear I encroach on j'our time, gentlemen; but I cannot 

 neglect to render justice to M. Dufour, a new member of the 

 central commission, and author of an Atlas, executed with taste, 

 and accompanied with a well written text, which will very 

 advantageouslj^ supersede those heretofore put into the hands of 

 j^oung students. M. Denaix pursues with zeal and perseverance 

 the continuation of his Essais de Geographie Methodique ; M. 

 Brue, whose health has been for years declining, has never 

 omitted taking part in the sittings of the central commission, 

 and has not yet given up his labours, although he has at present 

 remitted the publication of the results. I shall also mention M. 

 Balbi, who is diligently engaged in statistics and geography; 



* In a sliort time, M. Bianchi will publish his French and Turkish Dictionaryfi 

 for the use of Navigators, Merchants, and other travellers in the Levant, This 

 work, which was much wanted, will be of real service to orientalists and travellers. 



