GLEANINGS 
IN 
SCIENCE. 
JVo. 35. — November , 1831. 
I . — On the Measurement of the Indian Meridional Arc. 
The East India Company has frequently received the praises of the scientific world 
lor the attention it has uniformly bestowed upon two popular and useful branches 
of knowledge, Botany and Geography : of the former, it is out of our province 
at present to speak ; of the latter, we have hut to adduce as evidence the 
splendid maps and charts published under its patronage, not only of the countries 
directly included in its extensive possessions, hut, we may assert, ot most of the 
eastern hemisphere, from the Cape of Good Hope to China. It has alwajs main- 
tained a marine survey establishment for the examination of the coasts and sc as 
on both sides of India; while, on the continent itself, surveys .have been conducted 
on the most extensive scale : true it is that many districts remain hitherto almost 
unexplored, hut this is rather attributable to the magnitude ot surface than to the 
deficiency of means or exertion. Wherever collision with neighbouring states has 
opened a road to regions hitherto untrod, the opportunity has never been lost of 
collecting- geographical materials; and, if time permitted, ot completing an authentic 
survey. > 
Government would, however, lay a claim to merit for works of so olniously 
useful a nature, and one so indispensable to its own interests . at an} rate, * ' 
°f such that the philosopher would expatiate as ‘ a liberal boon to science, ’ 
^ Honorable Company have thrown the regal Governments ot urope in o 
‘■Mde.’ The trigonometrical survey of an arc of the meridian is a t c 
different description; it is purely of a scientific character, am a . 1 ou =*’ . 
other scientific labours, it reflects its utility upon the practical business o 
hundred different ways, still it is neither essential to the ruling powu in 1 
Ii)ent °f its territorial revenues, nor, as a member of a late Finance lucrative 
c ° v ered, to the dak travelling civilian in shaping his course to suint 
^ofussil appointment 1 . .wtakinir— 
fojo thCir Steady P atrona S e and su PP° rt 0f this VaSt yearVo” unremitted 
their renewal of vigor in its pursuit after twenty-five y 
®upport, the Company’s Government deserves the palm ot unquali 1 
t We ad «de here to the supply of new instruments lately 
Urve yor-g enera i f or t h e prosecution of the remainder of the im.n 
‘ ItUn" U SCale ° f grandeur and accuracy hithert ° f UD 7nf U t hese instruments, and 
of h UI Wls ^ t0 la y before our readers a descnptioi British artists, 
° fthe improvements introduced in them by the advanced skill of British artist , 
* EW SERIES, no. X. 
