ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY 49 
was elected to the presidency. Professor Gibbs was, however, 
unable to serve and Professor Marsh was thereupon elected 
President. 
In a work entitled “ Investigation of the Distance of the 
Sun,” * published in 1867, Professor Simon Newcomb called 
attention to the desirability of further experiments in relation 
to the velocity of light. 
At the spring session of 1878, he presented a communication 
explaining the methods employed by the French physicists, 
Foucault and Fizeau, for measuring the velocity of light, and 
pointing out the discrepancies in the results obtained by them. 
He outlined a modification of Foucault’s method which he had 
worked out and another which had been devised by Ensign 
Albert A. Michelson, U. S. N., and asked the Academy’s con- 
sideration of the question whether the Government should not 
be asked to provide the means for carrying on experiments in 
accordance with the improved methods. A resolution was 
passed at the same session, providing for the appointment of a 
committee to consider the matter and report to the President and 
Council who should have power to act. The committee reported 
favorably on the project, and its report was sent to the Secretary 
of the Navy, Hon. R. W. Thompson, through whose interest an 
appropriation of $5000 was made by Congress, to be expended 
under the direction of the Secretary. Professor Newcomb was 
appointed by the Secretary of the Navy to conduct the experi- 
ments, and immediately took steps to procure the necessary appa- 
ratus. The experiments proved more laborious than had been 
expected and it was not until November 15, 1881, that Professor 
Newcomb was able to report definite results. These were not as 
satisfactory as had been hoped, on account of certain defects in 
the apparatus used, which were not detected until a late date. 
At the time of reporting in 1881, the sum of $2,000 was still 
needed to complete the experiments. 
The defects in the instruments having been remedied the 
experiments were taken up again July 24, 1882, and continued 
until September 5, 1882. 
* Washington Observations, 1865. Appendix 2. 
