Although it is now considerably more than three centuries and a half ago since the large island of Papua, or New Guinea, was dis covered by the Portuguese commanders, D'Abreu and Serram, it appears somewhat sur prising to reflect that, as a country, it remains practically unknown to Europeans. Nearly 50 years ago the Dutch, it is true, attempted to form a settlement at Fort Dv Bus, in Triton's Bay ; but they •were soon compelled to abandon that lowlying spot, in conse quence of the unhealthiness of the climate, which there appeared to be absolntely fatal to Europeans. Later (in 1835) an expedi tion fitted out by the same maritime people, undertook to survey the supposed " River Dourga "—beginning at about 100 miles to the N.E. of False Cape, latitude 8.24 South, and longitude 137.38 East — but (beyond proving that the "river" was a strait 90 mile.s long; aud defining the limits of Prince Frederick Hendrik Island) not much was then effected by the Dutch, who have peculiar facilities for prosecuting their researches in this direction. French expeditions, commanded by Divnerrey and Dumoiit D'Urville (1822-5. 1827-9, 1837-40) have also added to our knowledge of the South ern, Western, and Northern coasts of New Guinea, but our own countrymen have, more recently, explored much of this terra incognita, so interesting to the geographer, the ethnologist, and the naturalist. In 1845, Captain Black wood, of H.M.S. My, surveyed the Great Bight, on the south-east coast, and after Cap tain Blackwood, Captain Stanley, of the Rat tlesnake, Lieutenant Yule, of the Bramble, antt Captain Moresby, of the Basilisk, all made fur ther discoveries in those parts. A scientific commission sent by the Netherlands in 1858 also carried on the work, and Sigtior D'Albertis (the Italian traveller and naturalist) has yet more lately laboured in t?»e same field, nnc? not without results hontmrahle to himself and useful to science. In spite of all this, how ever, New Guinea remains still unknown, a country full of problems that yet await satis factory solution. It is to solve some of thca problems, and (more especially) to add to the resoiirces of natural history, »« opened up i n the vast island of New Gufnea, that Mr Wil liam Macleay of this city has determin 0 "! to fit out, at his own expense, nn expedition boPaprta. 