192 Geographij. — Laiigeviiif, 



GEOGRAPHY. 



A letter from Madrid, dated October 10, states, that 

 orders liavc been issued from the secretary of state's office 

 ill regard to a general map of Spain, the ))lan of which was 

 formed some time ago, and actually begun, but interrupted 

 several times in consequence of various unforeseen circum- 

 stances. This plan, however, is now about to be carried into 

 execution, having l)een intrusted to the society of geographers 

 established some \ears ago under the ministry of the Prince 

 of Peace, and placed under the inspection of don Salvador de 

 Ximcnes, director of the observatory of Madrid, to whom 

 the society is particularly indebted for its organizaticm and 

 progress. Two of its members, captains Ybarra and Sa- 

 rasa, have already received tlieir instructions ; one to su- 

 perintend the geometrical and the other the astrononiieal 

 operations, by which the position of each place will be ac- 

 curately laid down. A certain number of pupils distributed 

 in different pro\'inces, and always stationed in such a man- 

 ner as to be under the inspection of the chiefs, will assi>t 

 them in their labour ; and eminent mineralogists and bota- 

 nists have been appointed to collect information in regard 

 to the productions of the different provinces, their popula- 

 tion, the nature of the soil, &c. By these means the Spa- 

 nish government will obtain a complete statistical account 

 of its wide dominions, and be better enabled to introduce, 

 such iinprovements as the present state of the country may 

 rc(|uire. 



LOXGEVITV. 



. The following exlraordinarv instance of longevity is given 

 in a late German journal : — " There is now living near Po- 

 losk, on the frontiers of Livonia, a Russian who served 

 under Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden. He was pre- 

 sent at the battle of Pultawa in 1 709, at \\ hich time he was 

 eighlv-six years of age. At the age of ninety-three he en- 

 tered into the married state, and had children. The family 

 of this patriarch consists of 18(i individuals, who reside to- 

 getlier in a village which comprehends ten houses. Tlie 

 oldest of his grandchildren is 102; the age of the next is 

 not less than a centur\'. This old man still enjoys a perfect 

 state of health, though now 180." 



Erratum. — In our last Number, p?ee 95, last line of Note, for t't'/bfr 

 read eiier. ,^ 



