May 24, 1858.] 
BRITISH PUBLICATIONS. 
273 
on the Yorkshire sheets. I have been indeed much gratified to learn, 
that the point for which I have long contended is to he carried out, 
and that the vast and uncultivated area of the Highland mountains 
of Scotland is to he represented, when published, on the 1 inch 
scale only A 
In Ireland, two thirds of the 1 inch map has already been 
engraved in outline, and more than one-third of the features of 
the ground has been sketched. The entire map in outline will 
probably be finished next year, and the engraving of the perfect 
map with the hill features is in progress. 
British Publications . — At the head of the new geographical publica- 
tions of our country I naturally place the new edition of the work 
on Physical Geography by Mrs. Somerville, which was last year 
announced as forthcoming. The varied phenomena of the physics of 
the globe are, as in the former edition, most logically and clearly 
put together by this gifted lady, whilst many new and important 
data are added; thus affording clear evidence that nothing has 
escaped her penetrating eye ; her sound judgment and accomplish- 
ments enabling her to condense into a few lines passages descrip- 
tive of the great truths of nature. In short, for clearness of method, 
perspicuity of thought, and vast range of subjects, Mrs. Somer- 
ville’s ‘ Physical Geography ’ must call for our warmest approbation. 
The * Letters from High Latitudes 5 by Lord Dufferin, which 
have appeared in the past year, constitute a volume of a very 
different character. The dashing and spirited manner in which 
my noble young friend sailed forth on his enterprise, and his 
gallant bearing when with his little Foam yacht he was so for- 
tunate as to traverse icy seas, from which the Peine Hortense steamer, 
conveying Prince Napoleon, was obliged to turn back, the ardour 
with which he explored the lonely Isle of Jan Mayen, are all 
enhanced by the unaffected, captivating, and modest manner in 
which these feats are recorded. I rejoice, therefore, in the accession 
of Lord Dufferin to our body of working geographers. 
Of Mr. Atkinson’s remarkable labours in exploring such vast 
tracts of Eastern Siberia and Chinese Tartary I had occasion to 
speak at our last Anniversary, when we first saw his striking 
sketches and paintings. In the mean time, by the publication of an 
admirably illustrated volume, he has so far made us familiar with 
* See Journal of Royal Geographical Society, 1852, vol. xxii. President’s 
Address, p„ xc. 
