Star.
London, England, 1817-11-10 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Sin—The present calm state of Europe, and thi
general good undetst 'tiding which subbi,ts amongst
the pairerful G ornaments, afford :mexcellent opp K.
amity Ow the extensive promotion of knowledge and
civilization, which might not to be lost sight of. TI s •
Frettell'atirenvged in accurately surveying the Greek
Islands ; and the r repedition utict:r Foevasze would
have been far (sults destination had it not been hr a 4 .
unfortunate accid sn. The Russians and ourselves .
are also ensployed iu partial undertakings i.f a similar
nature, winch must add something to the stock of,'d
general iolormation ;—but surely the enlightened
Statesmen of :he present d.sy ought to look beyond
such comparativly tritium objects, and to unite in
one combined pi.m of operation fir prosecuting dis-
coveries oil at grand scale, and filling up the remits.
Mg blanks in (I,ography and other branches of phy-
sical ket:iwledge.
To originate and promote such a design seems to
be the peculiar duty of Great Britain, as the*first
Maritime Power ; and, as we are given to undemand
that another Congress is to be liehl in me Spring, /.
permit me to suggest through your useful Piper, the
following outline ior the consideration of those who,
besides an ardent love of science, possess the means
of access to men in power.
I would propose that Great Britain, Rosie, and
France, should engage to fit out and dispatch, each
of them, at successive intervals of a year, three ves-
sels of proper size and eq « ment, to sail on voyages
of discovery, under instructions to be prepared by a
' Committee of Sc:entific men, of different nation 4
who should meet together for the purpose.
The British Expedition irst, under N ,va)
Officers of experience. ma:: :e.l by select crews, prin-
cipally young men ; w '2l a cqnsiderable number of
the Marine Society's laws as :;:lp.:rnumera:i:fs. The
Sciattific Department to be oa the mc:t liberal scale,
comprising a Geographtr, an Astronomer, a Natu-
ralist, a Draughtsman (or perhaps two 01 each of
these), and a Chaplain. all B:ittsh—and a Member
of each of the Uoiversitici of Oxford, Cambridge,
Edinburgh and Dublin—men of general knowledge
And good inf rmation.—B:.ikics these, let Russia,
and France be at liberty to s:..nd each on Scientific.
or Literary Man, sei.h ass;stant, and two midship.
men—the latter to tie L tinder 16 years of age.
exi.elitiotis to be sent out by Russia and,
France respectively at proler intervals, with libtrty
for its to embok in each at thetr. a literary orscen.
efic man wito his assittPro, and two young midship-
men. Whether the Dozch or any other power should
be allowed to cmtribre in stone way towards these
expedlions, and to !hare in t air immediate benefits,
may deserve c,msiderati,.n.

- It Journals were sent from time to tine, during
the progress of these expettittors, 'to the respective
Governments, the word at large might be speedily
informed of any important d;scovcrics, without wait-
ing for the tedious process of individual puislications,
which are qen mutilateJ by traio.iators. In return
for these adiant.iges, all civil:ted States ought to jon
in guarinteeing the safety of the ships against cap .
tore. notwi.lsitantlipg Atly haute wars.
The country bas,oever conti,l4ined of the expens
atterid;ng trigononietticAl survey, the publicatioi
~f which willgreatly advance our domestic prospe
thy; and no intelligent Briton would °lira to tit
charges incurred by such an espiatioll as is
suggested. • z • ..11L
. .
_s • "