ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY 4I 
The scientific instructions on astronomy were prepared by Simon 
Newcomb, and J. E. Hilgard; on magnetism, force of gravity, 
ocean physics and meteorology, by J. E. Hilgard; on natural 
history, by S. F. Baird; on geology by F. B. Meek; on glaciers, 
by Louis Agassiz. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the 
Navy, June 9, 1871, and printed in the pamphlet mentioned 
above, Professor Henry remarked: 
a 
. . . . [he expedition, except in its relation to geographical discovery, is not 
of a scientific character, and to connect with it a full corps of scientific observers, 
whose duty it should be to make minute investigations relative to the physics of the 
globe, and to afford them such facilities with regard to time and position as would 
be necessary to the full success of the object of their organization, would mate- 
rially interfere with the views entertained by Captain Hall, and the purpose for 
which the appropriation was evidently intended by Congress. 
“ Although the special objects and peculiar organization of this expedition are 
not primarily of a scientific character, yet many phenomena may be observed and 
specimens of natural history be incidentally collected, particularly during the long 
winter periods in which the vessel must necessarily remain stationary; and 
therefore, in order that the opportunity of obtaining such results might not be lost, 
a committee of the National Academy of Sciences was appointed to prepare a 
series of instructions on the different branches of physics and natural history, and 
to render assistance in procuring the scientific outfit.” 18 
This expedition, as is well known, ended in disaster. Having 
reached the latitude 82° 11’ N. on August 29, 1871, the highest 
attained by any explorer up to that time, Hall was soon after- 
ward taken suddenly ill at Thank God Harbor, Greenland, and 
died there on November 8, 1871.” 
* Instructions for Expedition toward North Pole from Hon. Geo. M. Robeson. Appendix, 
pp- 7, 8. 
“Tn 1871 six members of the Academy, Messrs. Meigs, Peirce, Hilgard, Baird, Henry and 
Barnard (F. A. P.), addressed a letter to the Hon. William M. Stewart, chairman of the 
Senate Committee on Mines and Mining, recommending that means be provided for testing 
the economic value of Western coals. The letter was printed as Senate Miscellaneous Docu- 
ment no. 74, 41st Congress, 3d Session. In 1875 the Academy adopted the following 
resolution on the subject: “ Resolved, That the National Academy recommends that an appro- 
priation be made by Congress for completing and extending to all known American coals 
the series of experiments now to be made by the Navy Department under an appropriation 
of Congress, and published in the report of W. R. Johnson on American Coals.” (See 
Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. 1, p. 111.) The following year the Academy again adopted the 
