Russia.—French Society for Encouragement of Arts. 395 
due of the resinous principle is dissolved in water, from which 
we can separate the resin by the addition of muriatic acid. 
. 
The Russian Government has made considerable progress to- 
wards opening a communication with the northern regions of 
America by the way of Siberia. The Tschuktsches, a nation 
inhabiting the north-east part of Siberia, having been continu- 
ally in a state of war with the Kourakes, who inhabit the shores 
of the sea of Ochotks, the latter threw themselves under the 
protection of Russia. The prudent measures adopted by the 
Russian Commissary Banner succeeded in inducing the Tschu- 
ktsches to make peace with the Kourakes, and to come every 
year into the circle of Nischnekolyma to exchange their furs for 
iron, tobacco, and other goods. This traffic was carried on for 
several years ; and finally they submitted themselves to the Rus- 
sian government in form. On the 9th of March 1813 they 
_sent a deputation of 70 persous to fort Angora, on the great 
river Anui: these deputies took the oath of fidelity to the Em- 
peror of Russia, and many of them were baptized according to_ 
the rites of the Greek church. The chiefs have engaged a 
fox’s skin for every individual baptized, in name of tribute. The 
trade with these new subjects of the Russian empire has since 
become brisker than ever; and there is every reason to believe 
that the Russians will speedily, by advancing over-land to 
Behring’s straits, open a communication with the people of 
America who inhabit these coasts, and who can supply abundance 
of teeth of sea-horses and furs of great value. 
The new French Government has resumed the digging of the 
grand canal of Ourcq, in the vicinity of Paris. The works had 
been suspended for several years in consequence of the late un- 
happy state of France. 
ey 
The Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. in France, 
held its grand anniversary meeting at Paris on the 11th of the 
present month. M. Degeraud commenced the business of the 
day by reading an interesting biographical notice of the late 
Joseph Montgolfier, the aéronaut. 
Among the novelties which were exhibited, and which had 
been honoured by the Society’s approbation, were some beautiful 
specimens of varnished metal fabricated by M. Deharme: various 
kinds of fire-arms on a new construction: some pieces of em- 
broidered velvet of superior elegance: shawls of an extraordi- 
nary breadth (two ells and a half) ; various modifications of Ar- 
gand’s Jamp: platina utensils and instruments: and porcelain 
vases, 
