122 On the Natural History Society of Moscow. [August, 



Society was very flourishing ; and by the year 1812, had published 

 four volumes of its transactions in different languages. All the 

 collections of the Society were deposited in the museum of the 

 University ; and along with that extensive collection became a 

 common prey to the flames in the memorable year 1812. Among 

 other things were lost some manuscripts, and almost the whole 

 of the impression of the four volumes of the Transactions, and 

 also the second edition of the first volume. Far from being 

 dispirited by this irreparable misfortune, particularly to Professor 

 Fischer, who had arranged and published a catalogue in three 

 volumes of the Museum Demidof, and two volumes of the 

 Imperial Museum, now united ; he and the other members 

 reassembled in 1813, began their proceedings, and since that 

 period have continued all their efforts with unremitting vigour 

 to recover from their losses. The Society has again collected 

 a small museum, which has been considerably augmented this 

 winter, as well as the library, consisting of above LOO volumes. 

 (Ihe library of the University is restored to the amount cf 7000 

 volumes.) 



The Society unites here a number of men of great, and others 

 of consideiable talents, whose works are too little known in 

 Great Britain. From the change in the state of Europe, how- 

 ever, a more free interchange of scientific publications is to be 

 wished for, and may be expected. The Society intends very 

 soon to reprint the four volumes of its Transactions ; and in the 

 mean time the fifth volume is in the press, which forms the first 

 of a new collection. The whole of these volumes is replete with 

 matter important to the natural historian and philosopher. 



The number of the Society's honorary and non-resident ordi- 

 dinary members is very great, and includes the most distin- 

 guished characters in Europe and America, &c. 



ihe Founder and Director, Professor Gotthelf Fischer, is a 

 most indefatigable naturalist ; and although not more than 46 

 years of age, the catalogue of his works and translations of 

 different kinds occupies nearly three quarto pages, and better 

 proclaim his character and the extent of his knowledge than any 

 encomium I could add. But I may be permitted to say, that 

 his private character is of the highest and most amiable kind, 

 a id that his friendship yields me the greatest pleasure and 

 instruction. 



The Society had attached the names of a number of distin- 

 guished characters in Britain before my arrival here. I proposed 

 a few more, Avho have been elected. 



The Imperial Society of Naturalists is well known on the 

 continent, and is desirous of becoming better known also in 

 Great Britain by an interchange of its Transactions for the 

 Transactions of the Natural History and Literary Societies of 

 our island, as well as to receive the donations of objects of 

 natural history, or of books, from its members, or from indivi- 

 duals disposed to assist its views. 



