ON THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE. VU 



the grosser strata of our atmosphere ! " The British Association, at a 

 former meeting, had, in consequence of these views, petitioned the govern- 

 ment to establish a powerful telescope at some point in the southern hem- 

 isphere ; this request Sir David Brcwster thought would be granted. He 

 also recommended the formation in England of an association similar to 

 the French Academy, composed of men eminent for scientific usefulness, 

 who might be enabled by means of a fund to devote themselves wholly to 

 scientific research for the public benefit. 



The next meeting of the British Association will be held at Ipswich. 

 The President for the ensuing year is Mr. Airy, the Astronomer Royal. 



The Report of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution contains 

 much information as to the operations of that noble foundation. The 

 memoirs are published separately, and afterwards bound into volumes, 

 and it is proposed that hereafter copies of all the publications shall be sold 

 at a price merely sufficient to cover the cost of printing. Among the pub- 

 lications made or announced during the year are, Researches on Neptune, 

 by Sears C. Walker; Vocal Sounds of Laura Bridgman, by Dr. Lieber; 

 Microscopic Examination of Soundings made by the U. S. Coast Survey, 

 by J. W. Bailey ; Physical Geography of the Mississippi Valley, by 

 Charles Ellet, Jr. : Mosasaurus and Allied Genera, by Dr. R. W. Gibbes ; 

 Antiquities of Western New York, by E. G. Squier ; Embryological Clas- 

 sification of Insects, by Prof. Agassiz ; Explosivencss of Nitre, by Dr. 

 Hai'e ; Occultations for 1851, by John Downes ; Ephemeris of Neptune, 

 for 1851, by S. C. Walker; Report on the Discovery of Neptune, by B. 

 A. Gould. Mr. Walker calculated from recent observations an empirical 

 orbit of Neptune for its whole revolution of 166 years, from which he 

 was led to conclude that Lalande had observed this planet on May 10, 

 1795. Examination showed that this was the case, but owing to its change 

 of place Lalande had marked it " doubtful/' From these data Mr. W. 

 was enabled to calculate a pure elliptical orbit, and Prof. Peirce has calcu- 

 lated the perturbations in its morion caused by the other planets. By 

 calculating the effect of Neptune on the other planets, he has explained for 

 the first time since its discovery the anomalies in the motions of Uranus. 



The Institution has awarded a small premium to Miss Mitchell, of Nan- 

 tnckct, the discoverer of the comet known by her name. A grant was 

 also made to Lieut. Gilliss for furnishing him, with instruments for his ob- 

 servations in Chili, but Congress has refunded the sum advanced. It is, 

 however, proposed to send him some improved instruments. 



Collectors of objects in natural history have been sent to Oregon, Cali- 

 fornia, and Mexico, by private gentlemen, with whom the Institution co- 

 operates. A collector has returned from New Mexico laden with a val- 

 uable collection of plants, seeds, &c., a complete set of which the Insti- 

 tion will receive, while the ethers will be divided among those who sub- 

 scribed to dcfrav the cxviense.'. They will be described by Dr. Grav in 



