The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-12

lines OF decnaton may be determined with considerable
accuracy The Secretary OF the Treasury has lioefa
directed that all the matter relating TO this subject IN me
Land Office may be placed at my disposal and Mr.. p" III
has undertaken 10 present the whole IN series Oh
maps the publication OF which in the Contributions can
not fail 10 be received interesting addition 10 'ees
trial magnetism.
Among the objects OF research enumerated in tho pro
gramme il the ANALYSIS of soils and plants but II is The
policy of the Smithsonian institution in order to employ
It's funds efectually in the way OF increasing ana
dhusng knowledge, not 10 engage IN any ope a'ip ION
which could be well If not better carried on under te
direction and with the funds of another institution ~
accordance with this arrangement has been haue
with the Commissioner OF Patents that the TWO ins'iu
lions may not interfere with each other; and as, al be
request of Mr. Burke, appropriation has been made
by Congress for series OF expen ents on me ABOVE
mentioned subjects, the Smiti sonan Institution will
therefore, for the present abandon this field oil research
for others less etectually occupied =,
| may also mention in this connexon, that the Snllh-
sonian Institution has been the means OF starring an IN
poant literary enterprise, intended to facilitate me S'uuy
of the history and literature OF our country. MI Hehry
Stevens, who has been engaged for number OF years a,
the agent in this country oil the British Museum, anu
other European Libraries, has commenced the preparation
of photographed work, comprising DESCRIPTION OF
all books relative published in America PRIOR TO me
year 7O0 and indicating not only the contents ana Vase
OF the books, but also the principal Libraries IN ms ana
other countries where they are to be found he prepa-
ration OF work of this kind will be in accordance win
that part OF our plan which contempla'es rendering .e
institution centre OF photographed knowledge, and
will have direct influence in promoting the ohecls OF
the various historical societies which are now established
almost Stale oil the Union, III pI"S'hs
institution into friendly relations with them: cerl,ll-
has been given to Mr. Stevens to the effect maj TINS
work, il found by commission to whom sha De re-
fered properly executed will be accepted tor publication
part of the Smithsonian Contributions to knowledge
Assured By this certificate that the work Will be properly
executed, number OF gentlemen and institutions, whose
Libraries will he examined and referred to- have Literally
subscribed deray the necessary expense OF It's pepara
ton With this encouragement Mr. Stevens has started
for Europe commence investigations in foreign libra
RES To satisfy ourselves 70 the Importance OF work
Of lind n
of individuals distinguished for their knowledge OF such
subjects and the answer IN all cases was highly Ia
gorable to the scheme Some OF these answers have
given in the appendix together with the details OF the
plan of the work as proposed by MIR. Stevens
Al the last session OF Congress an appropriation OF
SIS 900 made, motion of Mr. Stanton, for series
of astronomical observations in the southern hemisphere
for the purpose of determination OF the paraax OF
the planets and consequently OF their distance from the
sun, by simultaneous observations on the planets Venus
and Mars made at places situated north and south OF the
equator This appropriation has been found inadequate
to furnish all the instruments required; and inasmuch as
the expedition should not be undertaken unless the OBJ
are provided with all the aids which the latest inn
provements modern science can furnish and since to
wait for an additional Appropriation from Congress would
piled the institution to purchase and lend to him an
achromatic telescope; which, if not paid for by an add
,ional appropriation from the government, will after its
return from the south, form part OF the apparatus OF the
institution This instrument will cost about $1,000 to
be paid at the end OF three years The Executive Com
mittee 10 whom | applied for counsel on this subject,
sion for the application OF the funds of the institution TO
the promotion of science The instrument has accord
ingy been ordered to BIS constructed by an American ar,
ts and to be accepted only in case It's performance shall
meet the approval OF commission OF practical asrono-
mers appointed to examine 1t.
The position on the of Chill 10 be occupe. by
the southern observers is peculiarly favorable to the
study OF the facts connected with OF the most mystic
rous and interesting phenomena OF terrestrial physics
namely, the earthquake Lieutenant Gliss has been re,
lucsed give particular attention 10 this subject; and
for the purpose OF facilitating his inquiries psesmome-
ter instrument for measuring the intensity and drec.
ton of the eacue has been ordered at the expense OF
the institution to be placed in charge OF the expedition
during its absence The cost OF this instrument IS not
yet ascertaned will, however, not exceed one hun
dred and fifty dollars.
think il highly probable that these instruments will
be paid for by the general government The liberal spirit
which dictated the original appropriation will, doubt
not, complete the outh, by the addition OF sum sufficient
10 defray all the necessary expenses
Under the head OF original researches, may recall to
the Regents the fact of my having been directed to con-
tinue my Investigations on physical science, and to
report occasionally to the board my progress therein: In
the OF last year found an opportunity, while at
Princeton TO commence series OF Investigations on ra
dant heat which apparently produced some results OF
interest, but which my subsequent engagements have
prevented me from fully developing was also directed
to to be made series of experiments on the eco
much pleasure 10 obey this instruction of the board as
place in the Smithsonian building and the ne
cessary apparatus procured Tor properly conducting
the research
Reports on The progress of knowledge
The Smithsonian Contributions intended to consist
of entirely original additions to the Of human knowl
edge and TO be principally exchanged for the Trans
actions of learned societies, and 10 be distributed among
public institutions The reports on the other hand,
10 be of popular kind and are intended for as
wide distribution the funds OF the institution or the
means of publishing them may permit They will give
account of the progress of the different branches Of
knowledge in every part of the world, and will supply
desideratum in English literature
The objects OF the Smithsonian Institution not edu.
caona The press IN country already teens W it'll
elementary works the different branches OF kno Wedge,
and to expend funds in adding to these would be 10
dsspate them without perceptlbe effect Neither do we
believe that the distribution OF penny magazines, or
tracts the rudiments of science, can super
sede the abors OF the school master. As general
rule, knowledge presented in fragmentary form can
only be useful 10 minds well stored with general prin
cipes, TO which the isolated facts may be referred,
and knowledge both fragmentary and diluted, is al
most worthless in the way of popular disr
button. The elementary principles of science may be
Systematically taught to a certain extent in common
schools, and the reports we intend 20 publish will be
found OF value to the teacher and through him to the
pupil a. well as Interesting to the general reader While
these reports rendered free possible from tech
nca terms they will treat of subjects requiring attention
and thought TO understand them We think it better that
they should be above, rather than below the average in
ellgence OF the country; that they should start from
given epoch and IN most should be preceded by
brief exposition OF the previous state of each subject
Arrangements have been made for commencing some
OF these preliminary reports, well reports the