The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-06-04
NEW EANS:
MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 4, 1s4o.
Smithsonian institution.

The second Annual Report of the Smithsonian
Institution, is published in the National lntelli-
gencer. 1t is too long for general publication, and
it is too full of material for abstract. We ex-
tract few of the most important points, as explana-
tory of the progress Of this important public In
stitute.
The first annual volume of the Contributions to
Knowledge consists of Memoir on the Ancient
Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, by E. G.
Squier and E. H. Davis. Mr. Squier is the new
Charge to Guatemala-sent with view of afford
ing him opportunities to explore The antiquities of
that remarkable region. No copyright is taken
out for these works, so we may look for republi-
cation in popular form. The succeeding volumes
will contain more than memoir. Five papers
have been accepted-all on Astronomical subjects,
to be published in the next years Contribution
Two of them relate to Investigations on the new
planet Neptune, which are only second in value to
the original discovery of this distant member of our
system. A third is a determination of the zodiac
of the asteroids, or the zone in the heavens to
which the positions of these small planets are con-
fined. A fourth paper is an account of a new
comet, the discovery of which, by an American
lady, is of the first additions science of this
kind, ever made in this country. The fifth me-
moir is account of the Georgetown Observatory
the instruments with which it is furnished, the
mode of using them which has been adopted, and
the results Of the observations which have been
made An important paper is also in progress Of
preparation for the same volume on the gigantic
fossil cetacean remains which are found in the
Southern and Western States of the Union.
Under the head of Original Researches, the Re-
port records the preparation of tables to calculate
the time of occula,ion of fixed stars-an ephemeris
of the new planet Neptune-and the commence
ment of series of Meteorological Observations upon
the phenomena of American storms. This last
labor is performed by Professor LOOMS, whose
statistics are prepared in connexion with those of
Professor Espy, VINO is employed under the direc-
ton of the Secretary of the Navy Stations for
observations have been made in Oregon and Cali
fornia, at Bent's Fort, and at Santa Fe-and the
magnetic telegraph has been brought into requis-
ton for the purpose of comparing observations upon
Atmospheric Phenomena.
Papers are also in preparation on the temperature
and velocity of the Gulf Stream-on the Botany of
Oregon, and on the Magnetic Survey of the
mineral regions of the Northern Lakes
The Institution has been the means of starting
a very interesting literary enterprise, now in pre-
paration by MIR. Henry Stephens, of a work desig
mating all the books relating TO, or published
in America, previous to Notwithstanding the
character and contents of each book, and the
library, here or in other countries where the book
is to be found.
Besides these valuable additions to science and
literature, the Institution has made arrangements
for commencing reports upon the progress and
state of various branches of knowledge Among
them are
report the present state of oh emistry applied to
agriculture q report on the forest trees Of North
America their economical their mode of propa
cation, and their history report on the present state of
knowledge of lightning, and the best of guarding
against accidents nom its effects. report the late
discoveries astronomy, s. report meteorological In.
struments. with PRACTICAL observations and directions with
reference 10 the of them.
These are only portion of the interesting mat
tiers contained in the report They indicate very
dilgent effort carry out the plan adopted for the
organization of the Institution Though it may be
fairly doubted whether the plan carries out the
idea of the testator in bequeathng the fund.- there
can be no question that it has fallen into compe-
hands, and will be productive of great benefits
to science.