May 24, 1858.] 
RUSSIA. 
275 
particularly in the manner of overcoming the difficulty of repre- 
senting so large a portion of the globe as one extended hemisphere, 
in the manner devised by Colonel James, r.e. The catalogue of the 
‘ Literature of Geography ’ reaches to the completion of classified 
works on Africa. This collective view, furnished under the title of 
a ‘ Geographical Notice ’ by Dr. Norton Shaw, meets a great desi- 
deratum in the science. Of the numerous new maps or improved 
editions of older Surveys issued and prepared by our indefatigable 
associate, Arrowsmith, I will not now speak, as those who wish to 
study or possess such excellent works know that they have only 
to repair to Soho Square. 
CONTINENTAL GEOGRAPHY. 
Russia. — The great Russian Measurements of the Arcs of Meridian and 
Parallel.— The great Russian measurement of the arc of the meridian 
between the mouths of the Danube and the shores of the Polar Sea, 
to which I directed your attention in 1845, is fully described in the 
work by F. G. W. Struve, # my eminent associate of the Imperial 
Russian Academy, and superintendent of the observatory of Pulkowa. 
The progress of this measurement, one of the grandest geodesical 
operations of modern times, I formerly noticed up to the year 1845, 
when explaining the operations in Livonia, Yilna, Finland, and up 
to Tornea, the point, it will be remembered, which was the southern 
termination of the measurement of the arc by Maupertuis. 
In 1850 General Tenner had the satisfaction to push his triangu- 
lation as far as the banks of the Danube, and thus conclude his 
highly creditable labours of 34 years’ duration. 
As the former measurements of the arc of the meridian in Lap- 
land, by Maupertuis, and afterwards by Svanberg, do not correspond 
with the requirements of the age, it naturally appeared desirable to 
extend the Russian operations through Sweden and Norway towards 
the North Cape. For this purpose Struve obtained the cooperation 
of the Swedish Government ; and thus the whole of the arc of 
* This work is entitled ‘ Arc du Meridien de 25° 20', entre le Danube et la 
Mer Glaciate, depuis 1816 jusqu’en 1855, sous la direction de C. de Tenner, Lieu- 
tenant-General de l’Etat Major Imperiale de Russie; N. H. Selander, Directeur 
de l’Observatoire Royal de Stockholm ; Chr. Hansteen, Directeur du Departement 
Geographique Royal de Norvege ; F. G. W. Struve, Directeur de l’Observatoire 
Central Nicolas de Russie. Ouvrage compose sur les differents materiaux, et 
redige par F. G. W. Struve, Publie par l’Academie des Sciences de St, Pe'ters* 
bourg. 5 
