H'ylory of Ajlronbmy fvr the Yc<ir 1799. 3a 



b rated work contains the nobleft idea ever formed refpe6ling 

 the manner of finding the diftance of the fun from the earth : 

 an idea which, in my opinion, furpaflfes all thofe ever enter- 

 tained by the grcateft aftronomers. I gave fome account of it 

 in the JournaL dcs Savans for 1797 *, of which only twelve 

 (heets were puhliflicd between the 5lh of January and the 

 aoth of Auguft. 



The Nautical Almanack for 1803 has been tranfmitted to 

 us by the care of Sir Jofeph Banks, Prefideut of the Royal 

 Society, to whom we owe this public teftimony, that fince 

 the commencement of the war he has maintained the iiater- 

 courfc of the fciences. His name, his credit, and his fortune, 

 enabled him to overcome all ,obftacles, and to remove every 

 political impediment ; for we have afked nothing from him 

 which he has not taken the earliell opportunity of granting. 

 The Miniftcr of the Marine renders the fame teftimony, and 

 acknowledges the favours he has received from Sir Jofeph 

 Banks. 



Five volumes of the Afiatic Refearches have been pub- 

 lifhed at London. They contain a great many obfervations 

 made by the EnglilJi in ditlcrent parts of India; toor-ether 

 with memoirs on the Indian aftronomy, the lunar year, ani 

 the worfliip of the Indians. 



Bui-on Humboldt has gone to Mexico with inflruments 

 and a chronometer by Bertlioud, and v\ e hope , to receive 

 from him intcrefting obfervations refpe6ting the geography 

 of a country uhnoft unknown. Ho will employ himft-lf aJfo 

 on natural hillory, a fubjeol; with whicli he is well ac- 

 ijuaintcd f. 



C. Xouet publiHied in the Decade du Caire feveral obferv- 

 ations made in Egypt ; and general Bonaparte has caufed 

 them to be reprinted at Paris by Didot. C. Nouct in- 

 ilurmed me in a letter, that he was going to proceed up the 

 Kile as far as the Tropic, where the fimious wells of Sycn6 

 are fituated, and where no Ihadow is obferved in the day of 

 the folllice. We Oiall therefore have a real geography, ac- 



* Page io6 and 20J. 



t Two leuers ffom M. Humboldt will be found among the Intdli- 

 gc nee for tills moiuh. Euir. 



companied 



