lielzciic Socittij. J7.> 



^iammiiera, birds, fish, reptiles, insects; Switzerland pre- 

 sents within Iier inclosure, specimens more or less interesting 

 of the who e organic kingdom, and the same may be said of 

 mineral varieties, as is evinced by the rich collections of these 

 obje( ts already formed in some of our cities, and which are 

 receiving almost daily augmentation. 



Fr<(m our lowest plains to our summits covered with eter- 

 nal snow, we possess also every variety of climate wiihin the 

 limited circle of our tweniy-two republics. Meteorology 

 will receive, we trust, from a r gular and uniforri) system of 

 observations, wliich it is now in contempla ion to establish in 

 all the chief places of the cantons, previous data for uniting 

 and ci^mparisfg. The manaj^ement of our foiests, an object 

 of the first importance, will also etigage the attention of our 

 society; and in the present session we shall receive some 

 information from our colleagues Prof. Pictet and Decandolle 

 upon the track which they propose to follow in those two 

 branches of phiiosophrcal research, as well as in those whose 

 object is the hypsometrica! determination of the height above 

 the level of the sea of all the principal points of Switzerland 

 and of the various declivities of its rivers. The hydro- 

 techny of our country is particularly interested in these de- 

 terminations; and the memorable labours of the Linth, 

 (which cannot be recalled without honouring with profound 

 1 egrets the memory of the benefactor of that country;) the 

 success, I say, of these labours have convinced us of the 

 importance and of the possibility of the success of these ex- 

 tensive draiiiings, which are needed in numerous swampy 

 plains; operations which render to agriculture large quanti- 

 ties of unproductive lands, and cause salubrity to prevail 

 where nought but pernicious influences held their reign. But 

 it is time to finish these general and preliminary considera- 

 tions. 



1 should abuse your indulgence, very dear and honoured 

 colleagues, if 1 any longer interrupted your proceedings. My 

 duty is confined to directinp; your observance of the order of 

 the day as prescribed, according to custom, by the committee 

 of direction, assemltled prior to the opening of the session. 

 Bibliothtqve Unherselle, September 1824. 



