1809.] 
more terrible on the coasts of Van Die- 
men’s Land, and New Holland ; their 
ships explored the Indian Archipelago, 
their ambassadors reconnoitered the Thi+ 
bet, visited the kingdom of Ava, and 
penetrated into China. Vancouver de- 
scribed the coasts, which he was charged 
to inspect, with a care and aceuracy 
worthy of serving as a model to ail those 
who may have to execute similar mis- 
sions. ‘The French, so gloriously engaged 
in a different line, had not, however, 
abandoned geographical researches: if 
the English made us better acquainted 
with the southern point of Africa, the 
French found in Egypt subjects of more 
“interesting descriptions.-—Captain } Mar- 
chand performed reund the world a 
successful voyage, which, to be pro- 
perly appreciated, awaited the pen of a 
distinguished navigator. M. Fleurieu 
has rendered it move valuable, by giving 
te seamen such instructions, as. may 
render their courses less perilous and 
more useful, by preparing them to re- 
ceive the benefit of the new, measures, 
and by proposing a more methodical di- 
vision of the © seas—a division already 
adopted in Spain by alearned man, who 
thought, however, that he had reason to 
complain of the manner in which M. 
Fleurieu had spoken of his Gaur men 
But if the Spaniards really merited such 
reproaches formerly, by reserving for 
themselves their discoveries, it is but 
justice to say, that they have now adopt- 
ed a system quite opposite: the hydro- 
graphical depot at Madrid, after the ex- 
ample of that of France, has liberally 
published charts and works, which re- 
flect the greatest honour on it. 
M. Buache has prepared for our na- 
vigators all the instructions necessary for 
directing their courses; he has collected 
in the depot of the navy all the informa- 
tion that could ‘be useful to thenr; he 
has discussed every essential point, which 
a vast erudition enabled him to discover 
in the ancient geographers, to whom, 
he thinks, the interior of Africa, and 
even New Holland, were pretty well 
known, Captain Baudin, provided with 
these instructions, went to reconnoitre 
the coasts of New Holland ; an expedition 
particulary commendable for the ser- 
vices rendered by it to natural history, 
Finaliy, to conclude this account, by 
travels which combine every species of 
merit, M, Humboidt. performed, at his 
own expense, an undertaking which 
would honour a state; with his frend 
‘Bomplan. alone he penetrated into the 
Progress of the ScvencéS. ) 
Gay rts of 
America, from whieh he 
brought home 6000 plants, with their 
descriptions, the positions of 200 points 
and upwards, determined astronoinically 3 
he ascended to the summit of the Cim- 
boraco, and measured its elevation. He 
created the geography of plants ; assigned 
the boundaries between vegetation and 
eternal snow ; observed the phenomena 
of the m: venet, and of electrical fishes 3 
and furnished the amateurs of antiquity 
with precious information relative to the 
Mexicans, their language, their history, 
and their monuments. ; 
Sire—We have obeyed (very imper- 
fectiy, no doubt, but as well as our 
means would allow) the orders of your, 
Majesty, by offering to you this summary 
extract, of a more extensive and less in- 
complete view, which we have the he- 
nour to present to you, in the name of 
the Class for Mathematical and Physical 
Sciences ofthe Institute. Your Majesty 
has now heard the names eof all those 
who have contributed to the progress of 
mathematics. All these learned men 
wiil find the most flattering of all recom- 
pences, in the assurance “that their ef 
forts are known-te the august protector, 
whose countenance is suificient to en- 
courage the sciences, letters, and the 
arts. e 
There still reu..ius. for us to fulfl a 
very easy and very honourable duty. . 
Your Majesty condescends to consult the 
Institute, respecting the means of se- 
curing ulterior progress : the progress of 
mathematics is not in the least doubtful 5 
the prniaey instruction finds abundant 
sources ia the Lycea; the Polytechnics 
school is a nursery of distinguished sub- 
jects for all the diferent branches of the 
public service. We have already seen 
to proceed from that school more than 
one young man of learning, who, like 
MM, Biot, Poisson, Malus, marching i ia 
the traces of the greatest geometricians, 
promise them worthy successors; others, - 
such as MM. Puissant, Francceur; have 
seen their works adopted for the instruc 
tion and services of the public. The 
benevolent law which regenerated in- 
struction, promised an especial school for 
mathematics: this school existed. Geas 
metry and algebra, astronomy and phy- 
sics, are taught at the Lmperial Cok 
lege of France. Avcourse of transcend- 
a analysis there would complete the 
ystem. of instruction in the accurate 
fences An operant of importance 
was commenced, in order to procure to 
France a perpendicular worthy of its me- 
ridian 
