The Journal of 1817 is compiled from his Route Book. The other of 1818, he had himself written out fairly. In 1817 he was accompanied by Dr. Govan during part of the route, and in 1818 throughout by his brother, the late Dr. J. G. Gerard, who was another sacrifice in the cause of geographical science. The Appendix consists of several very valuable Tables of Latitudes, Barometrical Observations, and a short one of the Limits of Trees in the Himalaya. The latter was complete, but the two former were on a variety of loose sheets, and were arranged by my father; an office for which he was perfectly competent, having been a Surveyor of the East India Company for many years. What has already been published in the two former Volumes above-named, together with what is contained in this, completes all Capt. Alexander Gerard's Observations and Journeys in the Himalaya. The task has been undertaken neither with a view to profit nor fame, but from the sincerest motives of rescuing and preserving in a series, the valuable Observations of one of the most enterprising of British Travellers, and one of the kindest of Friends. The praise bestowed upon the three Brothers by an eminent Foreigner is at once correct and deserved, and it is a pleasing duty to conclude with it. "Die drei Gebrüder Gerard und ihre Begleiter "sind es, welche von hier, auf die wahrhaft kühnste " und unermüdetste Weise in mehrmal wiederholten "wissenschaftlichen Expeditionen, seit dem Jahre "1818, bis in die neueste Zeit (1829), allen Gefah"ren der wildesten Hochgebirge und der furchtbar"sten, polaren Winterkälte Trotz boten, um ihre 66 Höhenmessungen, Ortsbeobachtungen bis zu den " äussersten Riesenhöhen zu verfolgen, und durch "alle Gebirgs-Pässe und Plateau-Wüsten hindurch, "über die Chinesischen Grenz-Pikets hinaus, wel"che dort die Britischen Provinzen wachsam um 66 stellen, in die Nachbar-Provinzen vorzudringen." Ritter. Die Erdkunde von Asien, B. 2. s. 546. G. LLOYD. Brynestyn, August 10, 1841. |