New-York daily tribune., 1843-09-26
Geographical science.

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Hamilton, Esq. President Of the Royal Geo
graphical Society Of London, TO the Society al
their last anniversarY meeting. 1t is Pfecedec
by an address by the President or the presenta-
ton OF two gold medals awarded by the Socie'y'
TO two gentlemen who had distinguished them
selves in advancing geographical scie.ce- Inc
frs. of these had been voted by the Co'lncL OF
the Society to Lieut.. J. f. A. Symond'' OF the
corps Of ROYAL Engineers, IN acknowlec genheht
of his services in making some important gt9
graphical surveys in Syria, durlng the yea. af
Amonr these services was the trlanguiat!oh u
the country between Jaffa and Jerusaiein' axe a1.o
.he,,ce ~ tho head OF the Dead Sea; ana AM. ai'o
fron, csne Rlanco to Safeb, and Lake ltoefIas'
,-.;.i, ;rterr,edate triangles to connect the lwo
l;nes He also by means OF an eight inch theocoi,'e
.ecertained the difference OF Level between ei'e
Desd Sea and the Mediterranean. and also oe-
tween the Lake Of Tberias and the Meoitefla-
mean. The result OF this survey was that the
Dead Sea is 1922 feet, and the Lake OF liberals
3e8 98 feet below the level Of the Mediterranean.
The remarkable fact o. the great depression OF
these inland seas below the level Of the ocean mas
been known for some years. but 1t has not oesi
before established with the same degree Oh Pte
cision.
The services for which the medal was awarded
to Mr.. Eyre were various discoveries N Australia
and part;cularly an arduous journey OF moro than
a thousand miles through Southern Australia
from Port Lincoln to King Georges Sound ; hall
of which region he found entirely destitute OF
water and herbage. The medals were received,
in the absence Of the gentlemen to whom they
were awarded, by friends IN their behalf
The annual address of the President begins
with obituary notices OF several members and
correspondents of the Society, and persons whose
names are in other ways connected with geo.
graphical science. Among the persons who had
died since the preceding anniversary, ana OF
whom honorable mention IS made, are the late
Duke of Sussex, Rev. E. J. Daniel, SIR robert
Ker Porter, Lieut.. Wested, Sir William Ouseley,
the Chevalicr T. 0. Bronsed, Mr. 4. K Fred
erichstahl, Capt Treycinet and others. Alter
this respectful notice Of his fellow iaborers IN the
science, the President proceeded to give a review
of the progress Of geography during the year,
first in Great Britain, next In most Of the coun-
tries on the continent OF Europe, and then II Inc
other quarters Of the globe.
In England considerable progress has been
made in the surveys under the direction Of the
Hvdrographic Office of the Admiralty, and also
in the ordinance survey. The photographic Office
of the Admiralty has published during the year
thirty charts, viz. five sheets OF the coast OF
China, twelve of the British Isles six OF the
Mediterranean, and seven Of North America
Capt Sir E. Belcher has surveyed Hongkong,
which is nearly ready for publication, and also
the Canton river from Canton to Llntln. Cap
tains Kellett and Co!linson have surveyed the
whole of the Chusan Archipelago, and the river
tse-kiang. Captain F. w. f. Owen, OF
the steamer Columbia, is in the Bay OF fundy,
engaged in making survey OF that bay, and OF
the nayigable part OF St. John rlver. Some no.
tice is given OF the further discoveries OF Captain
Ross and Crozier, OF the ships Ercbus and Terror
in the Southern Polar regions. They had re-
turned to the Falkland Islands, after second
attempt to penetrate the barner OF ice winch sur
rounds the POLE in which they succeeded IN
reaching few miles further south than IN their
first season. They had sent home large series
of majestic observations, and were to leave the
alklands in November last, to endeavor 70 reaca
Polar land on the opposite side to that on
1;nch they had made their previous attempt, Ii
Captain Ross found means Of securing hls ships
in safety during the winter, it was his intention
to remain there until January next, for the purpose
of being at hand for further prosecution OF his
inquiries, but if not he would return to the Cape
of Good Hope and thence to England.
In Norway much was done in the trianguia-
ton of the country in combination with the
Swedish triangles, and in survey Of the coast. A
number of important maps Of these and other
surveys are in progress. The government of
Denmark has publsed continuation Of statis-
teal tables of the country, and several maps and
charts, Of some Importance are IN progress. The
Ireland Literary Society is publishing map OF
that island, partly founded upon new measure
T. !. cd A5nrrl inntS
map of the Ural, and also two or three books OF
travels Ir Prussia great number of valuable
geographica! works have appeared within the
past year, particularly maps, and travels. The
special maps of Prussia are carried to q high dc
gree OF perfection, and daily corrections and I'M
provcments arc made, which appear from time to
time in corrected impressions of sheets before
published Many maps and other publications
have also appeared in other countries of Germany
In Belgium, Mr. Daily is continuing the publ
cation of his Elements of the History OF The
Human Race, in relation to their geographical!
distribution at different epochs, and also the Let
tiers Edi6antes ct Curieuscs, being the voyages
and travels of Missionaries III al parts Of the
world, in Is volumes, with 500 cngravingS. Some
very complete maps have also appeared IN Belgium
Several geographical works of some Importance
have appeared in France, and also in Italy, par
tculary in Naples and Sardinia.
A large number of works of a considerable DC
gree of interest have appeared relation to Asia,
embracing almost every district OF ia number
of geographical discoveries have been made in
Africa, and several expeditions are now on foot in
that country, and some progress has been made
in the geography Of South America. These al
though noticed in some detail in the address, we
are obliged to pass over without particular men
ton. The survey thus given Of the advance III
geographical knowledge within the year, IS very
elaborate and quite satisfactory one. |; shows
that although no brilliant discoveries had been