134 Geographical Collections. 
Mr. Geoffroy St. Hilaire had already, in the great work on Egypt, excited the 
attention of naturalists towards the animals of that class, which this river, coming 
from the elevated parts of central Africa, bears with it in its regular increase, and 
which are unknown to the rest of the world. 
Mr. Cuvier, in comparing with attention the drawings and skeletons of Mr. 
Rifaud with those of Mr. Geoffroy, ascertained the existence of several new and 
interesting species. 
The whole number of fish amounts to seventy-eight, and the figures which Mr. 
Rifaud has executed of them, have the merit of offering the colours in a fresh 
state,—a part of their characters which painting alone has hitherto been able to 
preserve. 
The shells of the Nile, to the number of twenty-five, may also offer many no- 
velties ; but as we have as yet on this subject only the drawings of Mr. Savigny, 
and as the statg of that unfortunate naturalist’s health does not permit the hope 
that he will soon publish the text, the commissioners who reported before the 
Academy of Sciences, had not the same means of comparison as for the fish. 
The insects were so much broken, that it was impossible to distinguish the 
specific characters so as to ascertain whether there were many new. 
In looking over the collection of plants, Mr. de Cassini found them much bet- 
ter preserved than the animals; and he found, that though offering a great num- 
ber of known species, there were some perfectly new. The drawings are about 
500 in number, coloured after living specimens; and, without being quite adapt- 
ed to the present state of scienee, in the analysis of the more delicate parts of the 
fruit and flower, are far from being without interest, and give a satisfactory repre- 
sentation of the character of the plant, of its external parts, and of its natural 
colour. 
Each separate commission, in terminating their reports, proposed that the bo- 
dies of which they formed a part, should testify their approbation of, and grati- 
tude for, the labours of Mr. Rifaud; and the commission of the Academy of 
Sciences, more particularly testified its satisfaction to this traveller, for the rare 
example which he has given, of allying to his antiquarian researches labours of a 
more elevated nature, and from which all enlightened men can reap advantage. 
Notice of Paraguay, and the Government of Dr. Francia. 
THE rapid elevation of an individual from the most subordinate situation to 
the height of power, forms an epoch in the history of countries, upon which the 
mind always dwells with deep felt interest; and we love to seek, in his acts of 
government and first display of authority, the characteristics of that mind, by 
whose energies or superiority we suppose he has wrought his way to the regal 
purple. 
Such contemplations will generally be found to be fruitful in results. The 
demeanour of the leader of the people, and the giver of laws may be different ; 
but the bent of mind that characterized the one will still remain with the other, 
unless the sudden elevation dazzles the fair brightness of the intellect, and, like a 
second Masaniello, the hero becomes a madman. 
So much originality of character and thought is displayed in the government 
of Dr. Francia,—there is so much consistency in his whole proceedings ; and 
yet so much romance is attached to the first revolutions of a remote empire, ori- 
ginating under a fair sky, and planted on a rich and fertile soil; that we are sure 
our readers will thank us for having curtailed some other subjects of interest, to 
draw a sketch of this extraordinary man, for which we are principally indebted to 
the Essai Historique sur la Revolution du Paraguay, et le Gouvernement Die- 
tatorial du Dr. Francia. Par Messrs. de Reugger et Longchamp. Second 
Edition. Paris, 1829. 
Paraguay, a yast region in Southern America, threw off the yoke of the court 
