194 
Proceedings of H. M. C. M. Corvette 
[[June 
they had been caught. It is by such labours that we are continually reminded how 
much yet remains to be explored in the vast abysses of the ocean, and how little we 
are justified in supposing that we have yet filled in all the particulars of the 
great plan of nature. If, as we hope, the minister of the marine determine that 
an account of this voyage be published, a selection from these figures 
will constitute appropriate embellishments, and the work will form" one 
amongst that series of grand works for which science has been so much indebted to 
the French navy; we mean the voyages of Peron, of Freycinet, of Duperrey; to which 
may he added that ot Urville, for we have little doubt hut that brave officer and his 
learned companions will arrive in a few weeks with tlieir splendid collection, of which 
our last reports gave us some idea. 
It is a new and peculiar character of these recent naval expeditions, the union of 
details in natural history, with discoveries in geography ; it at once distinguishes 
them from those of other nations ; and while it renders the published accounts much 
more interesting to the general reader, to whom nautical and hydrographical de- 
tails would appear perhaps a little dry, it completes, by the knowledge it gives us of 
their productions, the account of countries of which formerly it was the sole object 
of these voyages to give a mere description of their coasts. 
We think that the Academy should express to M. Reynaud and to the other oflh 
cers of the Chevrette the satisfaction which their researches in natural history have 
affoided them, and that copies of the present report should be addressed to their 
excellencies the Ministers for the Marine and for the Interior. 
(Sd.) Desfontaines, Gfoffroy Saint Hilaire, Dumeril, Le Baron 
Cuvier, Reporter. 
The Academy adopts the conclusions of this report. 
Pep 07 1 made, to the Acade 77 iy of Sciences by a commission composed of MM. De 
Rossel Mathieu and Arago, on the operations having a relation to the mcttheinati* 
cal sciences carried on during the voyage of La Chevrette : 2 7th April , 1829. 
His Excellency the Minister for the Marine wrote to the Academy on the 30tli 
Januaiy last, and expressed his wish that they should examine the several opera- 
tions conducted on board the Corvette La Chevrette during the voyage from which 
that vessel has just returned under the command of M. Fabr£, lieutenant in the navy. 
The commission which you have appointed to report on the collections of Natural 
History lias already expressed to you the satisfaction experienced in the contem- 
p ation of what science owes to the indefatigable zeal of M. Reynaud, surgeon of 
jut vessel, and to the assistance which the other officers have been so anxious to 
afford him. It remains for us to notice those researches which have had for their 
o iject the improvement of geographical science — of terrestrial magnetism, and of 
meteorology.. These labours will afford a new occasion to appreciate the zeal and 
ability of which the young officers of our navy have afforded so many proofs of late 
yc<ii s* 
. Chevrette sailed from Toulon the 29th May 1827, and put in at Saint Denis, 
in the Isle of Bourbon, after 90 day’s sail. From St. Denis she proceeded to Pon- 
icherry ; she afterwards visited Madras, Calcutta, and Rangoon in Pegu. On the 
2/ th Januaiy 1823, she again returned to Pondicherry. On the 22d of the same 
month, La Chevrette took her course for Ceylon, where she arrived on the 29th, 
laving touched in her way at Karical. The objects for which she had undertaken 
, ie ' 1 !^. * ( ' eta ^ ne d her at ’Irincoinalee 18 days, and in the harbour of Kaits till 
, i e , 1 March. She returned to Pondicherry, where she remained from the 19th 
Maich to the 1st April. On the 2d she sailed for Java, and visited successively 
mu and Batavia. On the 2d July she was again at Pondicherry for the fourth 
-- a month’s stay in these roads, La Chevrette sailed for France. In the 
i ni rl Cie S i °i 1 ^ touched at False Bay. Finally she cast anchor at Havre on the 
December last, after being in all J6'8 days at sea and 194 at anchor. 
».■ .. e colll ® e °f this long voyage, M. Fabrd has fixed, by chronometer, the posi- 
uon ot one ot the Cape-verd Isles ; l, e has satisfied himself that the islands Saint 
TV /* > °. <iUe P lz > «nd The Seven Brothers, are not to be found as laid down in 
*7 . A P re . s Aeputicne Orientate; he has determined the northern extremity of a passage 
tr> V ln 1 ie a r, h ^ elag0 oi ^‘ e Maldives, which vessels from Europe, proceeding 
has 'f °*’° mantlcl Coast > may in future follow with advantage as well as safety; he 
Doniwl, the . course ° f the I'rawidi surveyed by M.De Blossville,_from Rangoon to 
and bv M ’p l 16 ar !M° f , t lls , river between Rangoon and the sea, ’by M. Jeanneret; 
kingdom ’ tllG V ranc 1 on wl,i ch Pegu is situated, the ancient capital of the 
examined the J? ort ^ n coast of Ceylon, M. Blossville has, under his orders, 
med the coast from Cape Palmey to the fort Hano-en-hiel ; he has also given 
