292 Geographical Collections. 



There is, perhaps, nothing more difficult in the hydrographer's vocations, 

 than that of deciding on the existence or non-existence of these reputed 

 dangers. To reject them on the grounds of their not having been seen 

 during a long period, as in the present instance, might be the means of 

 occasioning shipwreck ; while to insert indiscriminately all that are reported 

 to exist, would so fill the charts, that seamen would have enough to do in 

 striving to keep clear of them ; and the greater part would, doubtless, prove 

 to be only whales, pieces of timber covered with weeds and barnacles, ice 

 islands, and such other floating substances. It is well known that these are 

 often met with at sea. During the search for Aitkin's rock last summer, 

 by Captain Vidal, a spar was seen floating, which at first was decided to be 

 the rock ; but, after a search of three months, no rock was found. In such 

 uncertainty, the safest way at once presents itself of giving the authority, 

 and particulars of each, when, should the accounts eventually prove to be 

 correct, it will be satisfactory to know, that every care has been taken to 

 publish them. The Hervagault breakers are stated to be in lat. 41° N., 

 and Ion. 49° W Athenaeum. 



Albany State of New York " The establishment of canals, and the 



rapid increase of population in the north and west, have given great com- 

 mercial importance to the town of Albany ; the number of its inhabitants 

 has increased nearly 10,000 since 1825, and is now 26,000. The facilities 

 of conveyance are proportionally improved. Passengers go from Montreal 

 to New York (390 miles,) in from 40 to 50 hours ; and I have myself 

 travelled from Albany to Philadelphia (260 miles,) in 24 hours. One 

 hundred and twenty coaches, and from three to six steamboats, go and come 

 daily, and we may estimate at 2000 the number of passengers every day on 

 the road." — (Extract from a letter to M. Warden.) — Bull de la Sac. de 

 Geog. Jan. 1831. 



'*•• New Nautical Almanac — In a report made to the Geographical Society 

 bf Paris on the specimen of the New Nautical Almanac, sent by Mr Barrow, 

 the most flattering commendations are given to this improved work. " The 

 different ephemerides published at Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Milan, Co'imbra, 

 &c." says the reporter, « have their peculiar advantages : the English 

 ephemerides unite them all. Even the Connaissance des Temps, which is 

 unquestionably one of the most complete collections of this kind, will 

 comparatively be far behind : it contains the indispensable ; the Nautical 

 Almanac will give the indispensable and the useful, and sometimes perhaps 

 -what will approach to the superfluous." 



•^ Icelandic Inscription found on the East Coast of Greenland. — The Royal Com- 

 "teission for the preservation of antiquities received, with the news of Capt. 

 Graah's discoveries, (see Nos. III. and IV. of this Journal,) a stone engraved 

 with very remarkable characters, sent to him by the director of the colony 

 of Juliana Shaab. A native, named Christian, found this Runic monument 

 near Igalikko, to the east of Juliana Shaab, in lat. 61°, under some ruins, 

 supposed to be those of an old church, which was afterwards confirmed. 



The stone is about one ell fourteen inches and a half long, by fourteen 

 inches broad, Danish measure ; but is broken about three inches below the 

 inscription. 



The inscription in the Icelandic tongue, or primitive language of the 

 north, is as follows : — 



Vigdis M. D. (Magnus dottir) hvilir Mr ; gled^ gud sari hennar / 

 Vigdisa, filia magni (Marci, Martini) requiescit hie; exhilaret Deus ani- 

 mam ejus ! 



Thus we have a monument written at the time when Greenland was 

 inhabited by our Scandinavian ancestors, as well on the southern part of the 



