The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-05


The Annual Report Of the Board Of Regents Of the
Smithsonian Institution has been printed and prepared
for circulation 1t forms a comedy volume Of nearly 4T0
octave pages and usual viii be esteemed valuable
acquisition private and public libraries. In his
special report as secretary Professor Henry
by recurring TO the fact that the Institution has just
peed its first decade Of organized existence He reviews
the circumstances of the original bequest and ectes the
history of the acts of Congress and Of the Board OF Re
gents appointed under them and sketches the proper
tons OF the institution it stands in comparison with
other establishments Of the general character in the
civilized world In original inquiries and Investigations
has published seventy papers, embracing the lead
ing subjects in physical and natural science tending
especially to that leading branch Of the testaors pur
pose, the increase OF knowledge among men, and fill
ing eight large quarto volumes. That important branch
of affairs the financial is very hopeful and encouraging
The building has been fully paid for with sl25 900 over
the original bequest for profitable investment
The last eighth annual volume Of the "smithso-
Man Contributions to Knowledge contains six memoirs
subjects of popular well reoondte interest Adj
ditiona papers summarized in the report all of them
making considerable advances upon the heretofore unap
proprated domains Of science
The delicate and elaborate arrangements for the deter
mination of problems in terrestrial magnetism regu
LARRY maintained The chemical laboratory is also in
opemtion and results Of experiments that have been
making with view to Judgment the relative strength
of building materials will be published when completed
The library has been augmented in volumes, parts of
volumes and other articles to the extent of 1851 in
number But the museum has been the principal object
Of increase during the year Besides nearly eleven thou
sand dry specimens there have been added two thousand
mammals in alcohol and at least thousand two hum
bred skins of birds not yet entered on the museum regis
tiers The gallery of art is still chiefly composed of Mr.
. ~ n -
portraits paintings Of scenery customs &C. which Con-
gess warmly urged to purchase for the country Some
engravings and medals have been added.
The Lectures delivered during the past winter
ptulated and in the appendix several of the most popu
lar are presented in full OF these may specially
Mr. j. G. Kohls very elaborate and learned discus
sions on the subject of early American discovery and
chartography for which the whole country is put under
real obligation Then follow DIR. d. b. Reds at first sup
posed dry uninteestng but progressively popular
instructive and vitality -mpotant lectures ventilation,
as applicable in every species Of architecture public and
private ashore and afoat This is succeeded by paper
entitled .Syllabus of Course of Lectures Physics
which, to our mind is the completest rda to true
scientific investigator we have seen. The part
published is part one of this great work, which,
when finished will not fail in Judgment, to cause
the professors to be pronounced with graft
tue by the inquiring student for at least age to
come The next paper is by the same author, and
is learned and elaborate compendium Of architec-
tura acoustics and is perhaps the fullest not the first
investigation Of this important subject in language
Professor s. f. Baird assistant secretary of the nstitu-
ton contributes article consisting of directions for
collecting preserving and transporting specimens Of nat
ural history So complete and minute series Of in
structons ought to have the widest circulation An
ticle on the fishes Of New York. by Theodore GILL; esq
comes next, and then article certain Indian
mains in Canada West, by Mr.. w, T. Guest 'Phono-
graphy is recommended warmly In paper by Messrs.
Sharpless Patterson, of Philadelphia Numerous pa
pers follow all Of deep and abiding interest of which two
of prominence worthy of special reference viz that
on the relative intensity of the heat and light of the
upon different atitudcs of the EARTH, by Mr. L. w.
Meech and the report by DR. j. Muller recent pro-
gress in electricity. --laelllgenor.