There are several travels by Linnaeus (besides the one published by Sir
J. Smith, already noticed) and his pupils into different provinces of
Sweden, relating to their natural history, which botanists will value
highly; but we omit them, as interesting only to them. They are written
in Swedish, but German translations have appeared of most of them. There
are also valuable travels by Germans, especially Huelfer and Gilberg,
which give full and accurate details of the copper mines, and the
processes pursued in them; but these also we omit for a similar reason.
RUSSIA AND POLAND.
Whatever object has once been pursued by a Russian sovereign, seems to
descend as a hereditary pursuit to his successors. This is true, not
only of their plans of conquest, but also of their means of improving
their country; but it is evident of all countries, and especially of
such a vast extent of country as Russia exhibits, where new districts
are from time to time added, the very limits of which are scarcely
known, that no sure and regular means of improvement can be adopted,
until the actual state and the capabilities of each district are fully
known. The Empress Catherine gave great attention and encouragement to
these enquiries: a number of men, well qualified for the undertaking,
were sent to investigate the state of each district, especially its
natural history, and the addition to the national strength and wealth
which might be drawn from it.
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