54 Geographical Collections. 
from Captain d’Urville to his mother, dated Isle of France, 30th October 1828, 
full of accounts of the rich harvest they had reaped in foreign lands, and hopes of 
his immediate return. This was at length made known to the public as having 
taken place the 23d of March 1829, when the vessel arrived at Marseilles, and 
was immediately occupied with the disembarkation of a great number of boxes, 
containing the riches brought home by the Astrolabe, and destined for the Mu- 
seum of Paris. And thus terminated in three years, all but a month, one of 
what the “‘ Journal des Voyages” calls the most glorious campaigns of the 
French navy. 
New Guinea, New Zealand, the Archipelago of the Friendly Islands, are the 
spots that have been explored with the greatest care: 350 leagues of the coast of 
New Zealand have been surveyed, from the Cape of Contrary Winds, to Cape 
North, at a distance of four miles or more from the shore, and often nearer. The 
Archipelago of Santa Cruz, of the Lowisiad, of Fidgi, and of the Friendly Is- 
lands, have been enriched by the discovery of nearly one hundred new islands ; 
the position of a great number of others has been verified and rectified. New 
Zealand and New Guinea have furnished immense collections of mammiferz, of 
birds, of reptiles, of fish, of mollusce, of crustacezx, of plants, and minerals. These 
new riches are particularly due to the exertions of Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard, 
naturalists, whose names had already become celebrated from the part which they 
took in the discoveries made by the Urania, in which they acompanied Captain 
Freycinet. M. Lesson, brother to the naturalist of that name, had the superin- 
tendance of the botanical department. The Astrolabe is the first vessel that 
brings home to Europe the remains of an expedition whose fate had excited the 
whole of Europe. A very strong anchor, a cannon, and two stone troughs, have 
been withdrawn, not without great difficulty, from beneath the waves. These 
remnants of the shipwreck of La Peyrouse, have been found among the reefs of 
the island of Vanicolo, or Vanicoro, and other cannons are still seen under the 
water ; but the hopes of ever finding any of the sufferers, appears to be entirely 
lost. We shall probably very soon have the pleasure of laying before our readers 
the reports which will be laid before the Academy of Sciences, on the additions 
made in this expedition to the different branches of science. 
Professor Hansteen’s Journey. 
ProreEssor HansTEEN had long ago meditated a journey into Siberia, with 
a view of studying its natural productions, but more especiaily of studying those 
laws of magnetism which still remained to be perfected. During last winter, the 
public came forth to support the expenses, and the sum necessary for the purpose 
(4500 dollars) was voted to him by the Norwegian Diet. Naturalists and astro- 
nomers take the greatest interest in the expedition, of which Dr. Hansteen has 
received the most flattering proofs. Professor Erman’s son, and many other men 
of science, were to accompany him. Letters have since been received from the 
Professor and his companions to the 18th of February. On the 12th of Septem- 
ber they left Tobolsk, and travelled on sledges, the cold being at —40° of Rean- 
mur, so that frozen quicksilver could be cut with a knife. On the 31st they 
arrived at Tomsh; on the 21st of January 1829, at Krasnogarsh; and on the 
7th of February at Irkutzk, which is about 4000 versts from Tobolsk. ‘They 
afterwards visited Kiachta, and crossed the frontier of China; but the most agree- 
able result is, that one of the desired objects of the journey is accomplished, as 
the observations have proved perfectly satisfactory, and the position of a new mag- 
netic pole is ascertained. “When the letters were despatched, it was resolved that 
the journey should be extended to Niertchinsk, from which place Professor Han- 
. Steen would return to Krasnogarsh : his companion, Lieutenant Duc, was to go 
alone to Jakutzk, 2700 versts N.E. of Irkutzk, and perhaps proceed down the 
