Mineralogy. 281 



chored in St. Peter and St. Paul's harbour. The chamber- 

 lain Resanow goes towards Kadiak. The above is a short 

 account or our voyage for the last nine months *. 



MINERALOGY OF HANOVER. 



When the French government took possession of Hano- 

 ver, M. Heron de Villefosse, a celebrated mineralogist, was 

 sent from Paris to the mines of Hartz in that electorate, for 

 the purpose of watching over the progress of these works, 

 and to protect them as much as possible from the accidents, 

 of war. The success of his mission has surpassed the ex- 

 pectations of his government ; and he has transmitted to 

 the minister of the interior some very interesting details 

 upon the subject of these mines, accompanied with descrip- 

 tions of the various processes in use, both in the mines be ) 

 low ground, and in the forges and workshops after the ore 

 js brought out. Among the treatises transmitted by M. He- 

 ron de Villefosse, the most interesting are upon the melting 

 of the minerals of lead and silver, a survey of the moun- 

 tains and mines of all Hartz, and a very fine mineralogica! 

 chart. The aspect of the conutry is rugged and pictu- 

 resque, the air sharp, and the temperature extremely va- 

 riable. The winters there are always long, and cold. No 

 grain of any kind is cultivated in that district ; but it pro- 

 duces a great number of cattle. The people are robust and 

 healthy, and they are strongly attached to their native moun- 

 tains. 



The population of this district was estimated in 1804 at 

 22,282 inhabitants. Clausthal is the name of the principal 

 town in the Hartz, and its population is 7,622. The mines 

 of lead, silver, and copper are divided into three districts ; and 

 the machinery by which they are wrought is reported to be 

 very curious, 



* Before proceeding on hit voyage, Captain Krusenstcrn caused all the 

 water-casks intended for the supply of the crew to be charred in the inside, 

 a precaution which he found answer the purpose of preserving the water 

 »wect during the whole voyage; in the French journals, the merit of this 

 discovery of preserving water during long voyages, is ascribed to M. 

 Berthollct. This expedition lately returned to Europe, stopped for a few 

 dayiat Portsmouth, aud then proceeded for Ku*.ia. 



MUNGCJ 



