192 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



where its council approves of the proposed method. I may meutiou 

 an example from my own experience. I have engaged during the 

 last two years, at my own expense, an assistant to do certain reduc- 

 tions of sunspot observations by a method which, I believe, will give 

 useful results in many branches of cosmical physics. It would have 

 been advisable in any case that the first set of reductions by this 

 method should have been carried out under my own supervision, but 

 supposing the results arrived at to be valuable and the method to 

 commend itself to competent judges, it would be quite beyond the 

 powers of any individual to extend the calculations so as to include 

 other phenomena, such as prominences or magnetic disturbances, 

 which can be brought into connection with sunspots. The bureau, 

 with funds at its disposal and a committee of directors who could 

 judge of the value of any proposed piece of work, might prevent a 

 block in the advance of science which is at present possible for want 

 of a proper organization. 



IV and V. I quite agree that everything must depend on the nom- 

 ination of a managing head, although an advisory committee will 

 probably be necessary, and it can only be through the organizing 

 powers of a man who is at any rate thoroughly qualified in one 

 branch of science that the work can succeed. 



VI. I also agree that the institute should be started on a modest 

 scale. If it is desired that the council should be international, I 

 would suggest that the International Association of Academies 

 should be asked to nominate a certain number of its members. As 

 this association has been founded for the purpose of international 

 cooperation, it seems desirable to strengthen it as far as possible and 

 to avoid the multiplication of other international organizations. I" 

 do not, however, wish to express an opinion at present on the desira- 

 bility of starting the bureau at once on an international basis. It 

 might be better to secure greater elasticity by leaving it, in the first 

 instance, to be an American institution. If desirable, it will always 

 be easy in a few years' time to ask the International Association of 

 Academies to nominate members on its council. 



I am sorry there has been so much delay in sending you this 

 reply, but, as I have already informed you, I was unusually busy 

 when your letter reached me. 



Arthur Schuster. 



