Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-24
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING, DEcEsEze "a, Is;
THE COAST SURVEY.

of the Coast Survey and the ability Of it's
Superintendent we take pleasure 10 giving
the remarks made by Sir Roderick lmpey
Murcbison in presenting the Victoria Geld
Medal to Professor Bache, at the Anniver-
sary Meeting of May "a, 1858, and published
on page 232 Of the Proceedings for the year
lS5S.--Ndt. Int.
The Victoria or Patrons Medal has been
adiudicated to Professor Alexander Dallas
Bache for his successful labors in carrying
out the great Co,st Survey of the Uoited
States Of America. This Doble work owes
its origin, We believe, to the SUGGESTION CT
those enlightened statesmen, Jefferson ana
Gallstin. as early as 1907, and was supper,
ted in 1909 by the American Philosophical
Society, when Mr.. Hassler. an eminent &C.
ome,er of Switzerland, then resident IN the
United States, was entrusted with its execu-
ton. But war. and the time required Tor the
manufacture of the instruments, delayed lhe
commencement of the work till 1916. Con-
tinuing the survey, with brief Interruption,
to 1914, Mr.. Hassler was then succeeded oy
our medallist. =,
Operations of this nature will OF course
have been made available for correct oelln-
cation of all the surface of the interior; Tor 1t
is manifest that every triangle referabie to a
known unit furnishes three decided bases
with which others may be connected In any
direction, as long as there romans terra
frma for the instrument to stand on; but
these internal operations, being more OF
domestic nature, do not appear to the Coun'
Gil 10 establish any distinct claim to the
medal. The case, however, is very different
whes we come to consider the accurate &C.
lipeation of such O coast as that OF the UNI
ted States, commencing at the State OF Name
comprising DO less than eighteen States on
the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, besides 9TH
srs on the Pacific. and extending, as we are
credibly informed, over not less than 3O,oVO
miles. This number no doubt includes all
the windings and indentations OF the coast,
and the interiors Of it's harbors the islands,
"A. for it is to be remarked that, by the es'
neeisl proyisiou of the Government OF Amer.
ia. the duty is not confined to one class OF
nersops, but is shared equally by military aud
naval men and civilians, all chosen for their
6tness: whereby not only is the field for Sc
lection vastly expanded but greater facility
Of correctly taking soundings and delneatlng
shoals. harbors, and isolated rocks, ID afor'
ded.
Itwouid be impossible to do justice to an
extensive work of this sort on an occasion like
the present; but as the previous reports Of
this celebrated Coast Survey, from 1914 to
1855, inclusive, are in our library, those OF
our associates, and of the public generally
vho wish to form an estimate OF their value,
can do 30 at their leisure, and they Will see
how vastly our medallist has pushed on this
GREAT work. They will assuredly then rise
from the examination With the thorough con-
yiction that, whether we regard the science
skill, and zeal OF the operators, the perfection
of their instruments, the able manner 10
which the Superintendent has enlisted all
modern improvement into his service, the
care taken to have the observations accurate
~ registered, his modest and unpretending
demesnor, or the noble liberality OF the Gov
ernment, tempered with prudent economy,
all unprejudiced persons must agree that the
triponometrical survey Of the United States
of America stands without superior.
What, then, are We TO say respecting the
accurate delineation of this immense tract
of coast, 80 much frequented by commerce,
40 important in every point OF view to man
kind at large, but that it is great and uni
yerssl boon conferred on all the inha bitsnts
of this elobeH We all benefit by the security
of navigation: it is not the Government OF
the United States of America alone which
derives an exclusive advantage from this ad'
mirable series Of operations, but those who
have most frequent access to the shores OF
the Atlantic and Pacific chiefly participate
therein: and as Great Britain stands fore
most amongst these, on whom can we 80 de,
seryedly bestow one of our two royal gold
medals this year?
The President then addressed his Excel
lency the American Minister in these words:
"Mr. Dallas: Whilst / can truly say that
the Council and myself rojoice in this oppor-
unity of recording our sense of the high
merits of Professor Bache, have peculiar
satisfaction in being permitted to place the
Victoria Medal Of the Royal Geographical
Society in the hands of your Excelency, with
the request that you will convey 1t to your emf
nept relative.
"The grounds for making the award Of
the highest distinction which it is in our
power to confer have been expressed in the
terms sanctioned by the Council, but that
document does not allude to other great
ouslities of man who, besides bis admirable
Coast Survey, has so largely extended our
knowledge on various subjects of scientific
importance. / may here cite his delineation
OI the l5O-ludSueuC coiNOo po'N AZ Nf
and America; bis littorsl and deep-sea sound
ipgs, which it is believed, will soon enable
us 10 read off the natural history of the Gulf
Stream and to calculate the periodicty and
perturbations of the tides at given spots; aud
his many ingenious inventions, including
method Of registering tho pulsations OF dis
tant earthquakes.
"Britisb philosophers. sir, have indeed long
admired the progress of your accomplished
relative, as l can personally testify; for when
be visited our country in lS47, l had the gra-
ti6oatiou, on resigoipg the chair of the British
Association to my esteemed friend, Sir ROB-
ert Inglis, to welcome Mr.. Bache to our meet
ing at Oxford, where he presented TO us some
results of his great survey, and we did honor
to ourselves by enrolling him among our
honorary members.
"Lastly, sir, when know how successful
ly he has recently been laboring to AID the
accomplishment of the submarine electric
telegraph which is to unite our countries; that
this same individual lie the great-srandson OF
the illustrious Benjamin Franklin, as we'll as
Tho near relative of one Of your leading states
men: and that, bearing his honored name, he
IL your own nephew, feel in common with