Washington sentinel., 1854-07-16


Scientific researches are often supposed by
the uninformed to be of little or no real impor.
tance, and indeed are frequently ridiculed as
barren of all practical utility. But nothing is
more mistaken than this. The most valuable
andproductive of the arts of life, the most i'm.
portant and wonder.working inventions of mod.
ern times, owe their being and value to scien.
tihc investigations. BY these have been dis.
covered physical truths and laws, the intelli
/ gent application of which to practical inven-
tions has given immense benefits to the world
The germs of these valuable Improvements and
inventions have been found and developed by
scientific research, the original forms of which
have often seemed to the many to be as idle and
useless as they were curious A proposition
relating to the pendulum which for many years
remained only curious theoretical relation,
ultimately furnished a anti for the standard
! measures of States and nations. The discovery
that magnetic needle could be moved by q
! galvanic current, seemed for a long time more
curious than useful. and yet it contained the
| germ of all that was afterwards developed in
the telegraph. 1t has been we'll remarked that
numerous applications and inventions always
result from the discovery of a scientific princi
| pie, so that there are many Fultons for every
| Franklin.
| There is no branch of industrial art which
does not owe for the most part its improved
processes to such investigations, although the
artzans who employ them are often ignorant
OF their true source. SmthsOn, who was him.
self man of science anc research, and con-
tributor TO the philosophical transactions of
the Royal Society, well6new this. The mem.
bers of Congress who famed the law were not
| ignorant Of it, and the provisions for a chem-
cal laboratory, and collections of natural his
tory proved that they looked to the prosecution
Of such inquiries under the auspices of the
Smithsonian Institution.
Wisely, therefore, did the FIRST Board of Re-
gents propose in order to INCREASE KNOW
LEDGE
First. To stimulate men Of talent to make
original researches, by Offering suitable rewards
for memoirs containing new truths, and to pub
| lish these and such other papers Of suitable
character as should be offered to the institution
Second. To cause particular researches to
! be made by competent persons.
/ And in order to DIFFUsE KNOWLEDGE
| First. To publish occasionally series of
practical reports on the progress Of the differ.
ent branches of knowledge
Second. "To pablish occasionally separate
treatises on subjects of general interest,"
The results which have been produced by the
institution, have received the appreciation of
the learned in every part Of the civilized world,
and fully justify the wisdom of the plan adopted
by the regents, and successfully carried into
operation by the secretary.
As a proof Of this we need only state the
following facts given in the last report of the
regents to Congress-
! "The institution has promoted astronomy, by the
aid furnished the researches which led 10 the dis
| covery of the true orbit of the new planet Nep.
/ of III he hiatt
of this planet and the other bodies of the solar
| system, on account of their mutual attraction II
has also aided the same branch of science by fur
nishlng instruments and other facilities to the
| Chillan expedition under Lieutenant Giliss; and
| by preparing and publishing an epheners of Nep.
tune, which has been adopted by al. the astrono-
| mers of the world.
!" II has advanced geography by providing the
scientific traveller with annual lists Of the occua-
| tions OF the principal stars, by the moon for the
determination of longitude; by the preparation Of
tables for asceranng heights with the barome-
| ter; and by the collection and publication of inn
portant facts relative 10 The topography of different
parts OF the country, particularly Of the valley Of
| the Mississippi.
:" II has established an extended system of me-
teorology, consisting of corps Of several hun.
dred intelligent observers, who are daily noting
the phases OF the weather in every part of the
continent OF North America. II has imported
Standard Instruments, constructed hundt eds of
| compared thermometers, barometers and psychro.
| meters, and has furnished improved tables and
| directions for observing with these instruments
| The various changes ofthe atmosphere, as 10 tenn
pera,ure, pressure moisture. &c. Ii has collected
and Is collecting from its observers, an extended
series OF facts which are yielding deductions oil
| great interest in regard to the climate Of this
country and the meteorology of the globe.
The institution has advanced the science of
geology, by lis researches and original pubca-
tons. II has made preliminary exploration OF
| The remarkable region on the upper Missouri
| river called the Bad Lands, and is now printing
descriptive memoir on the extraordinary re-
mains which abound in that locality II has
sisted in explorations relative to the distribution
| in this country OF the remains OF microscopic ami
mails found IN immense quantities in different parts
| of the United States
1T has made important contributions TO botany,
by means OF the published results Of explorations
/ IN Texas, New Mexico, and California and by
the preparation and publication Of an extended
memoir illustrated with colored engravings, on
the sea plants Of the coast Of North America
"lt has published several important original
papers on physiology, comparative anatomy,
oogy, and different branches of descriptive natural
history and has prepared and printed. for disiri-
button TO travellers, series Of directions for col
lectlng and preserving specimens
"lt has advanced terrestrial magnetism, by fur
nlshlng instruments for determining the elements
OF the magnetic force, to various exploring expe-
duons; and by publishing the results Of observa-
tions mace under lis direction, at the expense Of
\ The government.
Il has collected and published the statistics Of
the Libraries of the United States; and perfected
plan oil stereoiypng Catalogues, which will render
effective, as combined whole, all the scattered
Libraries of the country
| The institution has also been instrumental In
| directing attention 10 American antiquities, and
has awakened such an interest in the subject
WIN tend 10 the collection and study Of all the
iacis which can be gathered relative to the ancient
inhabitants OF this continent II has also rendered
available for the purpose of the cthnologist and
phiisnthropist the labors Of our missionaries among
the Dakoias, by publishing volume on the Ian
suage Of this tribe of Indians and has done good
service 10 comparative philology by the distribu-
| laries.
| 1t has established an extended system Of lite.
rary and scientific exchanges, both foreign and
domestic, and annually transmits between the
most distant societies and individuals, hundreds
OF packages of valuable works. 1t has pre>ented
It's own publications, free Of expense, TO all the
hrsclass Libraries OF The world, and thus rendered
them accessible as far possible, 10 all persons
who are Interested in their study. No restriction
OF copyright has been placed on their republica-
iion and the truths which they contain are daily
finding their way 10 the general publ C, through
tbe laoors OF popular writer's and teachers. The
distribution OF its publications. and its system OF