36 COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE 



had reference to determinations of latitude and longitude, and sev- 

 eral to measurements of the earth's surface. It was mainly through 

 his work that the question of a national observatory at Washington 

 was taken up and recommended by the Institute, and at the meeting 

 of April 6, 1822, copies were presented of the message of the Presi- 

 dent of the United States communicating to Congress Mr. Lambert's 

 report on the subject of the longitude of the Capital. Twenty-one 

 papers by other members related to astronomy, mathematics, 

 physics, mechanics, etc. Four of these were records of meteorologi- 

 cal observations in the District of Columbia, while the following 

 three received special attention from the Institute: The first, by 

 Dr. Alexander McWilliams, was an exhibition, with model, of his 

 invention called the " ship gauge," for finding the trim and draft of 

 water of a ship, which was made the subject of an extended exami- 

 nation and of a favorable report by a committee of the Institute; 

 the second was by Capt. John Thomas on his improvements in ship 

 building, and had the same consideration; while the third was by 

 Commodore Barron on the construction of bellows for pumping the 

 foul air out of ships. 



Of four papers on botany, one was a Florula Columbiana by 

 William Elliot; another was a list of the plants of the District of 

 Columbia, transmitted by the Washington Botanical Society; and 

 a third was on a national herbarium by Dr. Darlington. Two 

 treated of the silk worm, one of fossil remains, and one, by Dr. 

 Henry Huntt, of a change of climate in pulmonary consumption. 

 Thomas Law made four communications on monetary subjects, 

 namely, On the necessity of a national paper as a circulating me- 

 dium, established on the authority of the United States; On national 

 currency (of which 500 copies were printed by the Institute) ; On 

 a monetary system ; and Some remarks on the currency. 



It appears to have been the rule that the papers submitted to the 

 Institute became its property, but permission to withdraw some of 

 them for publication elsewhere is noted. It was the intent of the 

 society to issue transactions consisting of such communications as 

 were worthy of being so perpetuated, and steps were taken to make 

 selections for a first volume, but this was prevented by the lack of 

 means. 



Public addresses. — There were six public addresses, all having much 

 merit and all of which were printed in pamphlet form. One was 

 given in Congress Hall, while three were delivered in the hall of the 

 House of Representatives, and two in the room of the Institute in 

 the Capitol. The first, to which reference has already been made, 

 was by Dr. Edward Cutbush, On the objects and aims of the Insti- 

 tute. Three were anniversary addresses given, respectively, by Dr. 



