54 Geographical Notices. 
Mr. Collins crossed the Urals at Ecatherinberg, and then p 
ceeded by Tumen, Omsk and Tomsk to Irkootsk, where he 
mained amonth. He then visited Kyatcha and Mai-mat-tse 
as a collection of “Observations” rather than as the 2 
“Explorations.” Coming as it does from an American it may 
serve to draw attention to the much more elaborate and satisiae 
tory investigations which have been conducted during the last 
few years under the direction of the Russian government. 
Before proceeding to enumerate the more important of these 
expeditions and their several characteristics we stop to inquire 
occasion of the impulse lately given to Siberian exp 
ons. 
The immense capacity of Russia for producing raw materials 
has long demanded freer communication between the interiot 
and the coast, both in the east and in the west, than has hithert@ 
been enjoyed. The complete control by the Czar of the Am 
river would have almost as much influence on the developme® 
of Siberian resources as the control of the Dardanelles on 
Brie of Russia proper. Let the navigation of the stream 
of China. Precisely what has been her progress and what 
now the claims of ee “manifest destiny,” can only be le 
in the cabinet of St. Petersburg. This much i : 
treaty of Russia with China in 1689,* after the well known ¢ 
* Cf. Petermann on the Amur Stream, Geogr, Mittheil, 1856. p. 47% 
