62 COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE 



one subscription to several periodicals. No catalogue of the library 

 has been found. The resolutions had reference mainly to the raising 

 of funds, and recommendations were submitted that a certain per- 

 centage of the fees of members be applied to library purposes, but 

 no practicable solution of the question was ever reached. The sub- 

 jects of botany and agriculture appear to have been most strongly 

 urged, though the general classification adopted comprehended (1) 

 current periodical publications on scientific and literary subjects, 

 (2) standard philosophical works, (3) rare and useful works on 

 antiquity, research, etc., and (4) general utility on all subjects. The 

 library was among the property of the Institute transferred to the 

 National Institution in 1841. 



On January 15, 1827, the library committee was instructed to 

 inquire into the expediency of making a donation out of the funds 

 of the Institute to Prof. Silliman to aid him in the support of his 

 valuable work, The American Journal of Science. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



AMERICAN PHARMACOPOEIA. 



Under date of March 4, 1818, the Columbian Institute was invited 

 by a committee of the Medical Society of the State of New York to 

 aid in promoting the design for the formation of an American or 

 National Pharmacopoeia and individual contributions were solicited 

 for the contemplated work. It was proposed to hold a general con- 

 vention in Washington in January, 1820, for the purpose of com- 

 piling such a Pharmacopoeia, after the materials had been gathered 

 in four districts, namely, the northern, middle, southern and western 

 States. There is no record of formal action by the Institute, but in 

 view of the large medical representation in its membership, includ- 

 ing several who were well versed in botany, it is very probable that 

 at least valuable individual assistance was rendered. 



MERIDIAN OF WASHINGTON, NATIONAL OBSERVATORY AND WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 



Through two of its members, William Lambert and William Elliot, 

 the Columbian Institute was brought into relations with the impor- 

 tant matters of determining the longitude of Washington and estab- 

 lishing a national observatory. These projects were the subject of 

 several communications, of discussion and of a resolution, in which 

 the question of fixing a standard of weights and measures was also 

 incorporated. The following is from The Washington Guide, by 

 William Elliot, editions of 1822 and 1826 : 



In pursuance of a joint resolution of both Houses of Congress, of the 3d of 

 March, 1821, the President authorized William Lambert to take such measures 



