The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-24

Il, - i :, ss. :.ssI:s /: = :: EN- !.
business ssss: q nan ana nations IN shsis political
Tbs reasons and which call sor the o.
tabishmsnt Of national standards Of Weights and
national standard Of Astronomical results These re-
suits are comprehended in the term and inc!adsd In
tbs work, styled, "The Nautical Almanac"
The advantages and Importance of such work OBJ
x,eus 1t Is unnecessary to point to them here
@at viii merely mention that thu Nautical Almanac
should be computed aud published at least three years
in advance that ships departing long cruises,
may be furnished with copy. That 1t is work which
requires much sbar and great the preparation
for any the slightest mistake may prove dsas
trous both to property and life in all parts Of the world
The superintendent of the Observatory could not un
dertake to supsrutend the Nautical Almanac in de tall
without -holy neglecting his other and equally mpor
tant duties He might, indeed have the general direc
what sources the materials to be embodied Ia it should
b. obtained, aud what tests examinations and p.eof
there should BE- special and subordinate su.
p-rintendent Of the the Nautical Almanac, whose
work and to nothing else He will require tue asss
tasce Of small corps Of computors every calculation
should be repeated at least twice, end by least
computors each working independent Of and without
the kno wsdge of the results obtained by the other
In the foregoing account, included only portion
Of the dutss performed at this office, and mention has
been made Of bat part of the force engaged
The Observatory s literally, also Depot" of charts
Here sSapts are and
nautical books supplied, Instruments, etc furnished
to our public vessels Before chronomster is pur.
chased here for the government, It Is takn on trial
Tor year during which time 1t Is carefully compared
with standard clock, that record may be KEEP, Of
the utmost nicely embraces hundredth part
second There are some sixty eighty chronometers
alone in the Office whose rates kept with such
Besides these there are numerous other instruments
which demand much attention
There also much duty to bs perform
ed Charts to bs corrected compiled aud the
dertakiug has been here Of preparing
and current" charts Of the thre grand viz the
Atlantic, the Pacific and the Indian.
These charts intended gensraize the experience
of navigators In such that each may be-
fore him, at glance the experience Of all The track
of each showing the time of the year. the prevailing
winds and encountered with al other nforma-
ton obtained Is projected the charts The first Sheet
liam B. Whiting, Lieut.. U. Navy, has already been
published the otheA in the hands Of the
graver.
seEd herewith, copy CT sheet l. and ask the favor
of you to accept IL relates to the Gulf Of Mexico
and you will observe thst 1t exhibits the prevailing
rents and Winds Of that region at glance, and with
perspicuty certainty and generalization that written
accounts cannot give
Books, If may say, impart information through
the ear-these charts through the eye and therefore,
manner and form much more condensed and avala'
You will observe by this chart that the general cur
rents in the Gulf of Mexico almost regular in
their courses and as sharp ia their outlines, as is
guide vessel by turning little to thu right lit
tie the left according to les indcstisns may
Another important result to flow from these charts is
the removing of all doubt as to those 'Vigiss" incu
ding rocks reefs and shoals which, by Of the
certainty to their existence and position disfgure
the best general charts harrass navgators and stand in
the way OF commerce.
There is ALSO regular series OF meteorological Obser
vatons kept here For this purpose there is always
officer duty night and day. who is also charged with
subsidiary computations in connection with Astronom-
cal results Besides these duties there various others
which, taken In the aggregate give with the above
toned constant employment to the three Lieutenants
and seven Passed Midshipmen, who have not been
named.
These officers Lieut. Joseph C. Walsh in charge of
nautical books maps charts and instruments 1t Is his
duty also to keep aud for examination records
showing the OF each ohronomster and tho
condition OF every other nautical instrument, book and
chart, with reference to its fitness for service
Lieutenants D. d. Porter and VIM. B Whiting find
constant employment a. Hydrographers They spe-
caly engaged, at present. with the wind aud
are obtained from the Log Books of the Navy
The officers charged with the meteorological records
and observations are, Passed Midshipmen
JOEL s KENNARD, SAMUEL CARTER
GEO b. BIssELL, WILLIAM H. SMITH,
HENRY K DAVENPORT, SAMUEL B. ELLIOTT,
GEO M RANSOM.
These officers are also employed computors and
assistants in preparing the Astronomical
Of 1916 for the PRESS and with various other duties
minor Importance too tedious in their details des.
cription here.
With high considerations Of respect and esteem, I
remain very truly your friend and obedient servant
M. +. MAURY, Lieut. u. s. Navy.
Hon. JOHN @. ADAMS.