1838.3 



Progress of Geography in 1836^7. 



Indian Caucasus, to the ancient cities of Balkh and Bokhara, and added 

 considerably to our former knowledge of the course of the river Oxus, 

 and generally to the physical and political geography of Upper Asia. 



In 1835 we had again to revert to North America and the Arctic 

 Ocean, where our gallant countryman Back discovered and followed 

 to the sea the great river which now justly bears his name, tracing its 

 course in a north-east direction, a distance of 600 miles from its source 

 to the ocean ; and there, on the shores of the Frozen Sea, obtaining 

 such evidences of the great probability of a communication by water 

 along the northern coast of America, in the parallel of 69"^ or 70', 

 that the government has again entrusted to him the command of an 

 expedition which we sincerely trust may, by tracing the northern shore 

 of America, set the seal to Arctic discovery ; and thus reward the en- 

 lightened perseverance of the British government, and the courage and 

 enterprize of its servants. 



Such are the discoveries for which the Royal Premiums, graciously 

 placed by his Majesty at the disposal of the Society, have successively 

 been awarded by the council. 



From such high and animating ground of discovery let us descend 

 to the more humble, yet not unimportant details of the progress of 

 geography during the past year. And fully aware of the difficulty of 

 the task, and conscious how imperfect such a sketch must of necessity 

 be^it is undertaken with the hope that by endeavouring to state what 

 has been done, and briefly pointing out what remains to do, it may be 

 the means of rousing others to join in reaping the ample harvest which 

 is yet oflfered to those who take an interest in the study of some of the 

 many branches of geography, 



EUROPE, 



Civilized Europe, it might be imagined, at first sight, would offer no 

 field for geographical research ; and, in fact, a rapid journey over the 

 greater part of Europe could not add muck to our knowledge of its 

 physical geography ; but v/hen v/e search for rigorous astronomical 

 and statistical observation — for correct topographical detail— for a pre- 

 jcise delineation of its physical features— for an exact outline of its 

 coasts, and the depth of water in its various seas and channels — we 

 .search almost in vain ; yet much has lately been done towards attain- 

 ing such a knowledge of this part of the earth's surface as the ad- 

 vanced state of science and civilization imperatively demands. 



