dining theymr 18*29-30. 95 



The expedition to Algiers has elicited useful works from 

 several of our coadjutors. Independently of what we have 

 received from Colonel Lapie on that part of Africa, I may 

 mention the map of M. Barbie du Bocage, and the plans and 

 lithographs which M. Bianchi has added to the translation of 

 the Essays of Shaler, a work eminently useful at the period of 

 its publication, (the departure of the expedition in May and 

 June last.) and justly esteemed the best which \vo yet. possess, 

 on the regency of Algieis. M. Bianchi, on the return of a 

 mission, in the prosecution of wiiicli he marly perished, la- 

 boured diligently at this work, and has, in some degree, made 

 it complete, by giving to the public an interesting relation of the 

 mission, in which he accompanied Admiral dc la Brctonnicre, 

 and of the insult offered by the Algerines to the. vessel La, 

 Provence, in August 1829. M. Bianchi has deposited in the 

 Society, a second edition of his plan of AlgieiB, and its for- 

 tifications and environs, with the numerous improvements and 

 changes already efl'tcted or projected by the French, since the 

 conquest. Our colleague is indebted to Captain Gibou for 

 these correclions * 



During the year 1830, the g-eodes'c operations for the new 

 map of France have been continued On several parts of the 

 kingdom, with the same degree of exactness which the corps 

 of geographical engineers has extended to every thing belong- 

 ing to the execution of that great enterprise, which will really 

 be the topographical masterpiece of our time. The first sheets, 

 which will soon be published, completely justify our praises. 



It is known, that the geodesic operations carried on in the 

 Pyrenees Ivy ore of our col'cngties, (Lieutenant Colonel Cora- 

 bceuf,) have established with much precision, the differer.ee in 

 the level of the ocean and of the Mediterranean. The results 

 of those trigonometrical measurements', afterwards subjected to 

 the calculation of probabilities, shew 'bat the two <=eas affect 

 the same level, contrary to the conjectures which seem to have 

 hitherto prevailed. 



In the course of last October, one of the vice presidents cf 

 the central commission, Colonel Bonne, was engaj * in the 

 astronomical verification of the western part of the aic of the 

 parallel which is already measured from Brest, as far as Pudc, 

 in Hungary, and wilj be extended to the river Volga and to the 

 Ural. This is the most extensive operation of the kind winch 

 has yet been undertaken; for the extent of the arc exceeds 50 



•In a short time, M. Bianchi will publish his Ftcvch and Turkish 

 Dictionary, for j/ie use of Navigators, Merchant*, anil othti liacfUv* '"' ''"•' 

 Ltvant. This work, which wa» much wanted, will be of.real servico lo 

 orientalists and travellers, 



