rjo Progress of Geographical Diicovci y 



for an indefinite period. 1 shall say little to you of Mr. M'Fav- 

 lane, the author of two volumes, which in reality tell ua 

 nothing new, and in which there predominates a narrow spirit 

 and inveterate prejudices against, every thing that is not born 

 or used in Great Britain. I call your attention with more 

 pleasure to several of our countrymen who have set out, during 

 the course of this year, to explore Asia Minor, Syria, and 

 Greece, which for nine years has been endeavouring to ex- 

 tricate iifelf from its ruins, and to assume a situation among 

 civilized nations. M. Michaud, the author of the History of the 

 Crusades, accompanied by two geographical engineers, (MM. 

 Caille and Stamaty.) and M. Carcel, a naturalist, has, notwith- 

 standing his age and weak state of health, gone to visit the 

 places where the greatest achievements of the middle age were 

 performed, and where the contest of the Christians and Mussul- 

 mans, after having caused unheard-of evils to the contemporary 

 people, had nevertheless the effect of restoring the arts and 

 sciences in Europe, at that time in a sLatc of barbarism. To 

 the names I have just mentioned, must be added those of 

 MM. Fontanier, Guys. Vidal, Botta, Pallegoix, Gourmelcn, 

 Le Ture, a Bpli*inn, Uaife, and Royer, who are at present 

 travelling in different countries of Asia, and arc provided with t 

 instructions from the society. We also hope that the members 

 of the scientific commission sent to the Morca in 1828, will 

 bring their tribute of discovery. Already some of them, 

 MM. Ptiillon Boblave, and Peytier, M. Gauthier d'Arc, vice- 

 consul attached to the French mission in Greece, and recently 

 nominated member of the central commission, have addressed 

 to the society interesting details of their excursions. 



We shall soon be indebted to this commission and its direc- 

 tor, Colonel Bory de Saint Vincent, for a good map of the 

 countries which' arc to compose the new Greek state. M. Bory 

 de Saint Vincent and his collaborateurs have not confined 

 themselves to researches in antiquities or natural history, — the 

 geographical and topographical part of their labours will have 

 claims to our special attention. 



Russia in Asia, China, Polynesia. — Every scientific person is 

 acquainted with the recent successes of the most illustrious of 

 modern travellers, Baron Alexander de Humboldt, who is still 

 residing in our capital. Accompanied by MM. Hose and Eh- 

 renberg, and under the high protection of the Emperor Nicolas, 

 M. de Humboldt has found, in the northern climate of Asia, 

 subject to the grandson of Catherine, every facility for exploring 

 Ural, and eastern Siberia. I shall not dwell on a subject with 

 which the daily journals havo entertained their readers, and 

 which has occupied, during their sittings, the academies of 



