13 07.] 
On his return we may flatter ourselves 
with receiving much curious aud im- 
portant information respecting these un- 
known countries. 
‘The two vessels (Nadeshda and Neva) 
which sailed from Cronstadt on the 7th 
of August, 1808, under the command 
of Captam Krusenstern, returned on 
the 4th and 19th of August, 1806, after 
having sailed round the world. This 
is the first time that the Russians have 
circumnavigated the globe. M. Horner 
made several important geographical ob- 
servations on the coast of ‘Tartary, some 
of which are given in the Journal of 
Gotha, for September, 1806; in which 
Baron Zach continues to publish every 
mteresting astronomical occurrence, 
which affords an additional proof of how 
much importance a knowledge of the 
German language must be to every astro- 
nomer. 
M. Nisnieuski, astronomer to the Aca- 
demy of Petersburg, has undertaken se- 
veral journeys in order to ascertain the 
longitude and latitude of the principal 
points of the new acquisitions in Lithu- 
ania, Volhynia, Podoha, and Tauris, 
During the spring of 1804, Captain 
Lewis was directed by the President of 
the United States to ascend the Missouri 
in order to ascertain the best and safest 
mode of reaching the Pacific Ocean. 
With this view, he left Washington ac- 
companied by Captain Clark and a reti- 
nue of thirty men; they ascended the 
Missouri 930 leagues, as far as its great 
cataracts, after which they traversed the 
rocky mountains in its neighbourhood, 
where they found it necessary to remain 
during the winter, on account of the-snow 
with which these mountains were cover- 
ed. In one part, we are informed, for 
about the extent of twenty leagues, the 
snow never melts. Captain Lewis pro-. 
ceeded one hundred and twenty leagues 
to the navigable part of the river Koos- 
kooske; from the Kooskooske to the 
south-east branch of the river Columbia, 
twenty-five leagues; from this branch to 
the principal bed of the same river, fifty 
leagues; and lastly, on the river Colum- 
bia to its mouth, one hundred and fifty 
leagues: which gives a distance of more 
than twelve hundred leagues from tl:e 
mouth of the Missouri to the Pacific 
Ocean. 
According to the observation of Cap- 
tain Lewis, the tide ascends more than 
thirty leagues up the Columbia, or to 
within two leagues and a half of its cata- 
Lalande’s History of Astronomy for 1806. 825 
racts, and to which point it is navigable 
for large vessels. Above this place, it 
can only be navigated with canoes and 
flat-bottomed boats. 
The elation du Voyage de Découvertes 
fait aux Terres australes pendant les An- 
nées 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, and 1804, 
comprehending 1st, the historical part; 2d, 
the manners and customs of the people ; 
3d, the physical and meteorological part; 
forming together tour volumes in 4to, 
edited by Messrs. Peron and Lesuer, will 
be published at the expence of govern- 
ment. <A 4th part, containing the natu- 
ral history, will be printed and published 
by subscription. 
M. Gualtie, a naval officer of St. Ma- 
loes, has made a great number of obser- 
vations in America. 
In Denmark, M. de Lowenhon has 
published a Chart and Description of the 
Feroe isles, between latitude 61° 25/ and. 
62° 25’ as a seauel to the superb and 
beautiful chart of Denmark, in-several 
sheets executed by the Danish geographi- 
cal engineers. 
The proposed visit of the missonaries 
to China having been delayed, the instru- 
ments, intended for their use, have in the 
mean time been deposited in the obser- 
vatory. 
M. Buache has announced a curious 
Map, La Muappamonda di fra Mauro, 
descrilo ed illustrato da Placido Zurla 
Venezia 1806, in folio, This map of the 
world, executed at Venice, about the 
year 1457, is curious, as affording a spe- 
cimen of the state of geography at that 
period. It was undertaken at the desire 
of Alphonso V. King of Portugal. 
M. Depuis, author of the extensive 
work de (Origine des Culte, continues to 
prosecute his inquiries respecting this 
subject. He has examined thirty ancient 
theogonies, compared the constellations 
of China and of the Indies, and made 
a curious planisphere of them. Among 
the remarkable results which his inqui- 
ries have furnished to him, may be reck- 
oned the explanation of the four rivers 
of the terrestrial Paradise, wlnich express 
the four guarters of the zodiac. The first, 
according to Joseph, indicates plenitude, 
or the long days of summer. The se- 
cond, dispersion, answers to the au- 
tumnal equinox. The third, confined and 
rapid, signifies the short days of winter. 
The fourth signifies coming from the 
east, which implies the rising of the sun 
on the renewal of spring, by the regene- 
rating lamb, which eflaces the evils of 
winter 
