148 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



the facilities required for the successful study of the natural sciences. We 

 are apt to suppose in America that it is nothing more than a great botan- 

 ical and zoological garden. This is a mistake, its true name is the 

 "Museum d'Histoire Naturelle," and it is a magnificent establishment, 

 devoted to the culture of every branch of scientific knowledge connected 

 with the earth and its inhabitants. It has been rendered illustrious by 

 the learned labors of BufTon, Cuvier and a host of other distinguished men. 

 Besides the grand galleries of Anatomy and Botany, there is a magnifi- 

 cent gallery of Mineralogy and Geology, all of them situated in a beau- 

 tiful garden devoted to the Horticultural, Botanical, and Zoological part 

 of the establishment. There are lectures delivered gratis, upon Chemistry 

 by Fremy, Electricity by Becquerel, Geology by Cordier, Mineralogy by 

 Dufrenoy, and on other subjects by men equally celebrated, such as D'Or- 

 bigny and St. Hilaire. And for the purpose of giving a more thorough and 

 complete sort of instruction than can ever be conveyed by ordinary lec- 

 tures, the " Cours Pratiques d'Histoire Naturelle" have been established, 

 or " Kepetitions de Mineralogie, de Geologie, de Botanique, et de Zoologie, 

 avec manipulations et nombreux exercises a l'aide d'instruments et 

 d'echantillons," with charges for the whole of the four courses $25, 

 for one set of lectures $6, for more than one $5 each. Or should the 

 student wish for more special instruction still than this, he can obtain it 

 on any branch of Natural Science for 5/r. or $1 per lesson from any of 

 the Assistants at the Jardin des Plantes, accompanied with the free use 

 and examination of instruments and specimens, and what perhaps is of 

 more advantage, a thorough initiation under their eye into all the curios- 

 ities and treasures of these vast beautiful and costly collections, in many 

 respects probably the most complete that can be found. It will be seen 

 therefore by the student, that in Paris, he can have the command of all 

 possible advantages for the prosecution of scientific studies, most of them 

 gratis, and the rest at a moderate price. To this should be added the 

 immense advantage of the attainment of the French language, and what 

 is of more consequence, an opportunity of seeing the practical working of 

 the French government, at the present moment a perfect despotism, but 

 controlling a people who are the most democratic in the world, and also 

 of gaining an insight into the complicated system of European politics, 

 unfortunately so little understood in America, but which it is of no small 

 importance to every American citizen to comprehed. 



Should more particular information be wished in regard either to the 

 Museum of Economic Geology, London, or the Jardin des Plantes, at Paris, 

 it can be obtained by addressing Mr. Trenham Reeks, Museum Economic 

 Geology, Jermyn St., London, or Messrs. Charles D'Orbigny and J. A. Hu- 

 gard, " Galerie de Mineralogie du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle at Paris," 

 all of whom are exceedingly obliging and affable gentlemen. t. r. p. 



6. Geographical Society at Paris, (Ath., No. 1485.) — The Geographical 

 Society at Paris, in its first annual meeting for 1856 (which took place 

 on the 5th of April), awarded its prize for the most important discovery 

 during the last year to Dr. Heinrich Barth. The next prize, of a golden 

 medal, was adjudged to Mr. E. G. Squier, of the United States, for his 

 Central American researches. — A great deal of interest was created by 

 the reading of a letter from M. de Bonpland to one of the members. 

 The Nestor of French travellers and naturalists announces in it his inten- 



