4 
these countries and their inhabitants, M. Gerard will visit 
Timbuctoo, in order to obtain the papers of the unfortunate 
Major Laing, who was murdered near this town in 1822. 
From Timbuctoo he Avill return to Europe by Ainselah, 
Goleali, and Algiers. The length of this journey is about 
three thousand miles ; for the purpose of accomplishing it M. 
Gerard reckons on the destruction which he will make of 
leopards, lions, and panthers, which depopulate whole villages 
in these countries; and on the relations he has formed with 
the Arabs. M. Gerard concluded by thanking the president 
and the members of the Society for the great attention with 
which he had been heard, although addressing them in a 
foreign language. 
O O O 
A vote of thanks to M. Gerard having been passed, and 
some discussion having taken place on his Paper, 
The Eev. W. N. Molesworth remarked that M. Gerard 
had visited Manchester in the hope of obtaining pecuniary 
assistance towards carrying out his proposed explorations. 
His object was of great importance both in a scientific and 
commercial point of view. He was opening up to them new 
sources whence they might be supplied Avith good and cheap 
cotton, and he also expected to make geographical, ethnolo- 
gical, and zoological discoveries. It was to be hoped, therefore, 
that gentlemen present Avho felt an interest in either of these 
two objects would make his purpose as Avidely knoAvn as 
possible, and render to him, or obtain for him, all the 
assistance they could. 
Some remarks having been made respecting the sudden 
fall of the barometer, Avhich occurred on Sunday the 19th 
inst., Mr. Baxendell read the folloAving extract of a letter 
from Mr. Vernon, F.R.A.S. : — “ At 8h. a.m. on Sunday, the 
reading of the barometer Avas 29 - 483 inches, and at 9h. 50m. 
p.m. 28’502 inches, a fall of 0'981 inches in a little over 
tAvclve hours: the entire fall in ten days was T8 inches, a 
