the mineralogists; and to these were added, Lahaie, as gardener. Care also was taken, that the chaplains and surgeons should be men conversant in the productions of nature. Ventenat fulfilled the former of these functions on board the Recherche; and, during the course of the voyage, displayed an uncommon portion of zeal; while the astronomer Piérson, acted in a similar capacity on board the Espérance. Bertrand was the regular astronomer; but, having taken his departure at the Cape of Good Hope, his place was supplied by an officer of the name of De Rossel.

This little expedition set sail at noon, on the 28th of September, and anchored at St. Croix, in the island of Teneriffe, October 13.

Proper guides, and every thing else necessary for a journey to the Peak, having been obtained, the naturalists, &c. immediately set out on their way thither; but many of them were prevented from accomplishing their wishes, by physical difficulties: Riche, and Bla viere were both unable to reach the summit, which enterprize was achieved by Labillardiere alone. He has since published an abridged narrative of his proceedings.

The passage from Teneriffe to the Cape furnished a variety of interesting facts concerning fishes and their anatomy. At length, on the 17th of January, the squadron came to anchor in the road; and from this portion of Africa, Riche transmitted some fine specimens of plants, as well as several very instructive memoirs to the Philomathic and Natural History Societies.

Having again proceeded to sea, on the 16th of February, and left Blavier behind them, who was obliged to remain on account of his health, they obtained sight of the island of Amsterdam, on the 28th of March; this is situate, in the middle of the Indian sea, at almost an equal distance from the continent of Africa and New Holland. Thence the squadron shaped its course towards Van Diemen's Land, which forms the most southern portion of New Holland, and anchored in the bay of Tempests, on the 21st of April. Riche went repeatedly on shore, and proceeded frequently up the country. He examined the waters, the trees, the forests, and the land, as well as the habitations, for the natives had fled, and it was but rarely, and by accident, that he could approach any of them. It is well known that these people are anthro

pophagi, that they lead a wandering life, that they subsist chiefly on fish, for the catching of which they employ little boats formed out of the bark of the Eucalyptus; and in a word, that the islands does not possess any quadrupeds.

"This point of land, which greatly resembles the termination of Africa in its general form, and differs but little from it in latitude, presented to Riche a striking analogy with the cape, in respect to the article of lithology, for its rocks and soil exhibited the same substances and also similar dispositions; the sea too enabled him to make a multitude of discoveries.” That portion of his journal, in which he gives an account of his dissections, and at the same time described whatsoever appeared new, in respect to fishes, molluscæ, or shells, contains a multitude of curious and interesting facts.

"Having quitted this place on the 28th of May 1791, the squadron crossed the strait which had been discovered by Saint Aignan, an officer, and Beaupré, a geographical engineer; this leads from the Bay of Tempests to Adventure Bay. It was on this occasion that Riche was made acquainted with a new cause of the luminous state of the ocean, in an undescribed species of Daphnia, which proved to be uncommonly phosphores cent.

"They then steered to the north, to reach New Caledonia, a long and narrow isle, situate fifteen degrees to the east of New Holland, and almost parallel to the coasts of that extensive region. On this occasion they saw the western part of it, which had never been examined before, and which is uncommonly perilous to navigators, on account of the multitude of reefs which prohibit all approach.

"On the 2d of July, they lost sight of the land without having been able to go on-shore, and then shaped their course towards the Admiralty Isles, situate to the north of New Guinea: for they had learned from vague rumours that some European dresses, and utensils had been seen there, whence it was hoped, they might be able to learn something con cerning the navigators of whom they were in search. As they passed along, they saw the islands of Solomon, or the Arsacides, and they recognized the western part of the Archipelago of Bougainville, called also the Treasury Isles. There are situate to the west of New Guines; but they held no communication, except with the inhabitants of Bouca, so called

by Bougainville, on account of the cry uttered by them. They are a people of a dark complexion, who cover their bodies with different colours, and spoil their teeth by the use of betel and lime.

"The expedition arrived on the 17th of July, at Port Carteret, in New Ireland; and this place being much nearer the line, than any other they had hitherto visited, they there discovered a great number of new productions. Riche, as usual, has described many of the animals and shells, objects which are so much the more precious, as we have hitherto had but a few of the testaceous species of the torrid zone figured by Adanson, and some executed with liitle fidelity by D'Argenville.

Leaving Port Carteret on the 24th of July, they passed along the coast of New Ireland, and again arrived on the 28th at the Admiralty Isles. The researches made by them, to discover the wreck of La Pérouse's squadron, were in vain. They communicated freely with the inhabitants, who seemed good and peaceable: they even entered into an amicable traffic, and for that purpose repaired on board the French vessels; but no instrument, and no article whatsoever, of European manufacture, was discovered in their possession. The only vestment worn by these islanders, consists of a species of shell, called bulla ovum, with which they covered or adorned a certain part, and it was considered as a great instance of immodesty to throw it aside; in short, it produced the same sensation among them as a woman going naked in public would do among us.

"Having passed through several clus ters of islands situate to the west, on the 21st of August they doubled the north western cape of New Guinea, with a view of reaching Amboyna, where, after a variety of disagreeable incidents, our naturalist arrived on the 6th of November, 1792. This island, so celebrated by turalists, is considered as the chief establishment appertaining to the Dutch in the Moluccas.

"Here Riche and his companions, without permitting themselves to be deterred, either by the burning heat of the climate, or a thousand other difficulties, made several successful excursions. His journal contains a variety of observations, relative to the marine animals of Amboyna; he presents a complete anatomical description of the (calao) buceros, hitherto wanting to naturalists, as well

as of a new species of tortoise, called Testudo Amboiensis.

They took their departure from Amboyna on the 13th of October, after a stay of twenty-eight days, with a view of surveying the continent of New Holland, and more especially of reconnoitring the coasts which are supposed to have joined the land discovered by Nuyts in 1672, to the shores of Van Diemen, This geographical task was commenced at Cape Lewin, or the Cape of Lyons, the most westerly point of Nuyts's discoveries, where they arrived on the 5th of December. They kept in with the land as close as possible; and on the 9th found themselves in the most critical position of any that had occurred during the whole voyage; for a violent gale of wind embayed them within a reef of rocks, where they, however, found a good anchorage, and there they remained several days."

It was during the period they were anchored there, that Riche had nearly become the victim of his zeal for discovery. He had gone ashore on the 14th of December, at ten o'clock in the morning, with several officers of the Espérance, as well as his colleagues Labillardiere, and Ventenat. They dispersed, as usual, after having agreed to meet about sunset, at the boat. At the appointed period, however, Riche did not make his appearance, and they waited for him during the space of two hours with the most painful inquietude. But at length, night having arrived, his companions were obliged to return to the vessel, leaving a good fire, provisions, clothes, his fowling-piece, and a few words in writing, behind them, on the beach. Laignet and Lagrandiere went on shore early next morning in quest of the naturalist, but repaired on board again at two o'clock, without having proved successful. At four, twelve inen set out with a view of making a fresh effort to discover him; but they soon despaired of success, in consequence of finding his handkerchief and one of his pistols on the beach, whence they supposed that he had fallen a prey to the savages. As this attempt was to be the last, provisions for two days had been stowed in the boat, and the commander of the expedition had or dered guns to be discharged, and fireworks to be exhibited, during the whole of the night, with a view of preserving the life of the unfortunate naturalist.

But the water being by this time nearly expended, and the people begin

the expedition, they abundantly satisfied the wishes of the naturalists, in respect to their productions, more especially by furnishing them with great plenty of the plants of the bread-fruit, which, after experiencing a variety of risks, have, at length, in consequence of the pains taken by Lahaie, arrived safe in France, whence they will be transmitted hereafter for the purpose of enriching our colonies.

After having sojourned at Tongataboo, from 23d of March, 1792, until the 18th of April, the expedition proceeded towards the west, in order to reach the eastern coast of New Caledonia, because this was now the sole remaining place where there was the least likelihood of hearing any tidings of the unfortunate La Peyrouse. They arrived at this place on the 27th of April, after having seen many of the islands discovered by Cook, and among others, the volcano of Tanna, which was still burning.

It was here, that, on the 6th of May, Huon, captain of the Esperance, died; on which Auribeau, the lieutenant of the Recherche, obtained the command. He was interred on a little island, where the observatory had been placed. His collection was bequeathed by him to the state; and there is preserved at the Museum, a very rare species of shell, Argo nauta Vitrea, which he particularly recommended on his death-bed. The commander in chief D'Entrecasteaux, only survived his colleague two months, he having paid the debt of nature on the 21st of July, 1793, almost under the equator. On this, Hernimy d'Auribeau assumed the chief command, while Rossel became captain of L'Esperance.

On the 14th of August the two vessels arrived at Wagion, where they remained until the 27th: they afterwards anchored on the 3d of September at Bourro, where they sojourned until the 15th, and were well treated by the Dutch. From that port they repaired to the Isle of Java, by passing through the Strait of Bontou. They then arrived at Sourbay, or Sourabaye, a port in the western part of Java, on the 18th of October, 1793. There the officers went on shore to refresh themselves, and remained during the space of two months.

Meanwhile Riche occupied his leisure hours in making excursions into the neighbouring country. Such, however, was the natural insalubrity of the climate, augmented, as it then happened to be, by continual rains, that it proved fatal to many persons belonging to the expe

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dition. We shall only notice the death of the astronomer Pierson, which occurred January 2, 1794. D'Auribeau caused a tomb to be erected to his inemory, on which an honourable inscription was engraved.

Intelligence of the events of the French, revolution, which first reached them at this place, having occasioned a great difference of opinion, an unhappy division took place, which put an end to the expedition. The commander took every opportunity to vex those whose opinions happened to be opposite to his own, and had recourse to the most cruel measures for that purpose. On the 23d he sent to Samarang, without any previous notice, Legrand, Villaumez, and Laignet, officers; Labillardière and Riche, naturalists; Ventenat, the chaplain; and Piron, the draftsman. All the collections, the journals, and the charts, remained in his own possession; these were afterwards carried to England, whence was sent back that portion which consisted of natural history.

After remaining some time at Samarang, Riche and Legrand were dispatched by their colleagues to Batavia, to solicit a passage to Europe. They were at first detained as prisoners; but, after a long time spent in negociations, they were at length dispatched to the Isle of France, on board of a flag of truce.Veutenat died a few days after his arrival; and Riche, being unable to support the loss of the valuable and important collection, formed by him in the course of the expedition, offered to return in quest of his treasures, and he accordingly repaired for this purpose to Batavia, but without success.

When he had once more revisited the Isle of France, he continued his researches, so long, and to as great a degree, as his feeble state of health would perimit. Having at length embarked for his native country, he reached Bourdeaux, whence he repaired to Mount d'Or, to drink the waters; but he arrived at that place in such a feeble state, that he survived his journey but a few days, having died there at the age of 35.

"Nécrologie de Cavanilles."-Account of the late Abbé Cavanilles the Spanish

Botanist.

Don Antonio Joseph Cavanilles was born at Valentia, on the 16th of January, 1745. He first studied the learned languages, under the Jesuits, and then repaired to the University of his native city, in. order to apply himself to philosophy and theology.

It was by his advice, and that of his friend, Don John Baptiste Menoz, that this seat of learning has substituted for its lessons the works of Condillac and Muschenbrock, in the place of inferior authors. It was in consequence of their interposition also, that mathematics, scarcely known there before, have since become one of the chief branches of learning.

After being some time a professor of philosophy at Murcia, Cavanilles was at length invited to superintend the education of the children of the late duke of Infantado. He immediately accepted of so honourable a charge, and conducted himself on this occasion with equal zeal and success. The eldest of his pupils, the present duke, who has taken up arms in behalf of his oppressed country, soon distinguished himself above all those of his own rank, on account of his attachment both to men of letters, and to those sciences which he has cultivated with success.

The charge with which he had been entrusted, occasioned the Abbé to repair to Paris in 1777. There he spent no less than twelve whole years of his life, and there he made himself master of several new acquisitions, particularly botany, to which he is indebted for his great reputation. He also found means to acquire a critical knowledge of the language of the country in which he resided; for in 1784, he published in French, a long article concerning Spain, in the New Encyclopedia. This was his first work; and he engaged in it with a zeal and a warmth truly patriotic. His first botanical dissertation appeared in the course of the succeeding year, and from 1785 to 1790, he added nine others. Those acquainted with this branch of natural history, have admired the clear ness, precision, and critical knowledge displayed by him in the course of the undertaking. It contains a description of a very large number of species, and is accompanied by 297 engravings, all the designs of which were made by himself.

On his return to his native country, Cavanilles, in 1791, commenced that beautiful work published by him under the title of Icones Plantarum; it consists of six volumes, and contains 601 plates, executed in a superior manner by his own hand. Here are to be found not only many specimens of his new genera, but a prodigious collection of species, some of which are eminently curious. Some in part appertain to Spain, and in part

but

to the two Indies. New Holland also, Las contributed its portion of the interesting specimens which occupy all this work. The Abbé received orders from his government to traverse Spain, for the parpose of collecting the plants growing there. He began his botanical labours by repair. ing to Valencia, his native country; he did not confine himself to a simple examination of the vegetable worlds, for he made a variety of remarks relative to the mineral kingdom, the agriculture, the geography, &c. of this province; not a single village of which but was visited by him, not a canton but he examined, not a mountain, nay, scarcely a rock, that he has not made observations upon.

In 1801, the Abbé Cavanilles was nominated Director of the Royal Estab lishment of Botany at Madrid, where he soon proved himself worthy of the preference exhibited on this occasion: for he reformed the garden, and introduced a new method of teaching. Scarcely did he find himself settled in the capital, when he determined to publish a Hortus Regius Matritensis, con sisting of all the plants, both new and old, in the royal garden. He was stu diously occupied on the work in question, when this zealous botanist, the friend of Jussieu, Desfontaines, Thouin, Ventenat, &c. fell a prey to diseases in the 60th year of his age; and thus at least was saved from beholding the misery at tendant on the subjugation of the country that had given him birth.

"Notice our Mare Hilaire Vilaris." A Biographical Notice relative to Marc Hilaire Vilaris.

Marc Vilaire Hilaris was born at Bour deaux in 1720. He was the son of an apo thecary at that city, and his mother was the daughter of the Vice-Seneschal of Neval. Having been always intended to succeed his father, he was brought up under him until he was eighteen years of age, at which period be w sent to Paris, to obtain a knowledge of chemistry, and natural history.

Vilaris had the good fortune to be placed under Rovelle, an accomplished chemist, and most amiable man. In his laboratory, he not only learned whats ever was necessary to his progress, bat became acquainted with a number of celebrated persons, whose conversation inspired him with a noble emulation. During the campaign in Hanover, be was employed in a medical capacity in the French army; but his heart, which was already devoted to virtue, would not permit him to witness the depredationa