18 REPOET OF THK SECRETARY. 



now ready for distribution. It contains the third and concluding 

 part of the Nereis Boreali Americana, a Grammar and Dictionary of 

 the Yoruha Language, and the magnetic observations made under 

 the direction of Dr. Kane during his last Arctic expedition. 



The issuing of this volume has been delayed on account of the in- 

 terruption in the printing of the Yoruba Grammar, caused by the 

 absence of the author, the Rev. Mr. Bowen. It was, however, essen- 

 tially completed within the year 1858^ and will bear that date. 



The articles which the volume contains have been described in 

 previous reports, with the exception of the magnetic observations 

 made by Dr. Kane. 



1. It will probably be recollected that the plan of exploration proposed 

 by Dr. Kane for his last voyage was recommended to the favorable 

 attention of the Secretary of the Navy by the Smithsonian and other 

 institutions, and that the expedition was furnished with magnetic 

 and meteorological instruments jointly by the Coast Survey and this 

 Institution. The observations above mentioned are a part of those 

 which were made with these instruments. They were reduced and 

 prepared for publication at the expense of the Institution, under the 

 direction of Professor Bache, by Charles A. Schott, esq., and form 

 additions to our knowledge of the direction and intensity of the mag- 

 netic force in the inhospitable regions of the north, of sufficient value 

 to fully justify the interest which was taken in promoting the organi- 

 zation and the fitting out of the expedition. 



The following extracts from the remarks of Professor Bache to the 

 American Association will serve to exhibit the light in which these 

 observations were regarded by him, nor can they be otherwise than 

 acceptable as the expression of an opinion in which all will concur 

 who were acquainted with our lamented fellow countryman, or who 

 are capable of appreciating his labors : 



" The scientific reader of the narrative of the second Arctic expe- 

 dition would be struck by the fact that while in the preface Dr. Kane 

 disclaimed all pretensions of a scientific character for his work, it 

 contained, nevertheless, some of the most important contributions to 

 our knowledge of the natural history and physical phenomena of the 

 interesting regions visited by the intrepid explorers. Dr. Kane appre- 

 ciated highly all the relations, direct and indirect, which science has 

 to an exploring expedition. He was ever careful to surround himself 

 with those who could, in their special departments^ make valuable 



