296 



THE NORTHERN SEAS. 



I 



islands of the group mentioned. If, according to M. Guizot, seconded 

 by Mr. Airy, Fiance is the pioneer of science, slie ought not to he igno- 

 rant of what it is in her power to know. 



I have not noticed various questions concerning the aurora boreal is, 

 terrestrial magnetism, gravity, and physical geography, which this ex- 

 pedition might solve, and I ask pardon for not haying given tliese sug- 

 gestions as those of MM. JJuperrey and Petit-Thouars, whose names 

 would have much more weight than my own; but in the domain of 

 science the sovereign empire is that of truth. One curious fact among 

 the observations of La Eeine Horteuse I omitted to mention, which is, 

 that in tlie arctic seas visited the magnetic needle, which here points to 

 the north, turned to the west, or even worse than that. M. Duperrey 

 should be furnished with the means of publishing his magnetic charts, 

 which extend to 18G0, and of thereby giving to the twentieth century, 

 now so near, data for which not onlj- that but centuries to come will be 

 grateful. 



