The Press.
London, England, 1853-06-18 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

Egyptian. Hindoo, Greek, ,tc.) is not yet explored.
lf, as American papers have stated, ruins have been
found in the South Sea, the Caroline Islands, a new
aspect of archaeology and history seems to loom over
our age.]
RUSSIAN GEOGRAPHICAL. SOCIETY.—The annual re-
port, just published at St. Petersburg, dilates espe-
cially on the three expeditions contemplated by the
society, which are of great import in a scientific, po-
litical, and economical respect. The first will pro-
ceed to Eastern Siberia, and is probably that hinted
at, when the efforts or offers of Sir It. I. Murchison
were declined by the Russian Government. The
second will explore the shores of the Caspian Sea ;
and the third the lands between the Duna, Don, and
Wolga, countries mentioned at some length by He-
rodotus anti Strabo. Besides the Russian sevens
engaged for the expedition, two Germans also,
Messrs. Beer and Helmersen, will form part of it.
The Geographical Society has also published ten
maps, of which the following are the most interest-
ing and indispensable to modern geographers :—A
general chart of Asia; one of the north-western por-
tion of Asia ; the north of Persia; a statistic atlas of
European Russia, ,tc. In fine, eleven works on geo-
graphy, archeology, &c.. have been edited by the
society, relating especially to Russian history, lan-
guage, ancient national poetry, .tc. It is, however,
to be observed that even the charts are printed in
Russian characters, which will induce many persons
to the easy task of learning, at least, the alphabet of
this great branch of Panslavic languages.
GREAT COLLECTION or DRAWINGS Or MEDIEVAL
ART-OBJECTS.—The tending of art and science west-
ward is a fact appertaining to our present times.
Thus many fine collections and libraries of the Con-
tinent have already found their way to the museums
of the United States. That of which we shall say a
few words is on the eve of being disposed of, and
might, we think, form a desirable complement to
either the British Museum or other great art-collec-
tions in this country. Dr. l'uttrieh, of Leipsic, its
present owner, says " that he has been engaged for
the last forty years in the formation of a collection
embracing the mediaeval architecture (partly also
sculpture and painting) of all European countries.
It comprises about one thousand well-conditioned
designs and drawings of the first masters in this art,
E. Gerhardt, M. Ilausehild, G. Pozzi, Dom. Quag-
lie, H. Stienwyk, Vermeensch, 4e., mostly of the
same size (small folio), partly consisting of water
colour drawings of the first order. To this is to be
added a collection of two thousand engravings, litho-
graphs, and wood engravings, relating equally to
mediaeval architecture, sculpture, and painting, and
with the assistance of which Dr. Puttrielt compiled
his work 'On the Architectural Monuments of Sax-
ony: " There can be no doubt that a collection of
such specimens, whereby a lucid insight into the
progress of medieval architecture, from its origin to
its highest development, can be obtained. is to be
met with but rarely, and is of high importance. Al-
though a disposal singly might have been more ad-
vantageous to Dr. Puttrich, he prefers to transfer it
in its entirety to some great art-collection.—[Cata-
logues can be obtained from Dr. Puttrich, Leipsic,
but the greatest speed is required, as the term for
the sale of the collection is a very proximate one.]