f) j Progress of Geographical Discovery 



sailed along the coasls of South .America, touched at the Sand- 

 wich Isles, and traversed the Marians and the Chinese archipe- 

 lago; and M. Dussuraier of Bordeaux, member of the society, 



who, in a voyage to Cochin China, made numerous collections 

 in natural history, since presented to the Museum of Paris. 

 and who, at the same time, appears to have collected useful 

 geographical information. 



It still remains forme, gentlemen, to call your attention to a 

 project worthy of the consideration of the scientific world, and 

 of which the "author, whose recent departure Iras deprived us of 

 seeing him in this assembly, has submitted the vast plan to 

 your central commission. You will immediately perceive, that 

 I allude to Mr. Buckingham, a most indefatigable traveller, in 

 the prime of life, and who, after having explored a great part 

 of the globe, wishes to make a voyage round the world, which 

 is to last | five years at the least. This interesting navigator, 

 whom numerous auditors have heard speak in public on new 

 subjects, with a facility so rare in a foreign language, lias found 

 in M. Dumont d'Urvifle a conscientious ;o^\ enlightened judge 

 of his project, which at once embraces the interests of science 

 Htid of civilization, and the advantages ol commerce so essen- 

 tially important to England. 



It is not necessary for me to speak here of M. d'Urville's 

 report in detail, nor of the plan, with the examination of which 

 he was intrusted. The monthly bulletin of the Society will 

 supersede an analysis of these observations, otherwise too com- 

 plete and extensive to be presented in an abridged form in this 

 report. 



It still remains for me, gentlemen, to recapitulate to you 

 briefly the labours of the central commission, to which several, 

 among you have privately devoted yourselves. First, wc 

 should address our thanks to those* members and correspon- 

 dent who have furnished us with useful documents; amongst 

 whom I may be allowed here to mention the communications 

 of Mr. Warden, on America; of M. Jomard, on Africa; of M. 

 Bianchi, on the East; of M. Cadet of Mel*, on the voyages to 

 the North Pole; and the reports of MM. Brue, Ccrabceuf, 

 Coquebert-Montbret, Girard, d'Urville, ajid Theologue. 



Among the individual labours of the members of the society, 

 it is my duty to mention the beautiful maps V>f Colonel Lapic, 

 (Egypt and Arabia Petrea, and the States of Barbary;) he is 

 engaged at present in the publication of a map of the Roman 

 empire, in which he has traced the itineraries of Antoninus and 

 of Peutinger. He is also continuing the publication of his 

 Universal Alius, but the late events have retarded its execution. 



