REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 21 



The magnetic intensity was derived from observations of deflections 

 and vibrations made between January, 1854, and May, 1855, the 

 magnetic moment of the magnet having been determined at Wash- 

 ington. From twenty-three separate values the horizontal intensity was 

 found equal to 1.139, corresponding to the epoch of June, 1854. The 

 total force was 12.48. In the summer of 1855 the horizontal intensity 

 at Hakluyt island was found to be 1.344, and at Cape York 1.573. 



The remaining series of the Arctic observations under the direction 

 of Dr. Kane are still in process of reduction ; though a portion of the 

 tabular matter has been sent to the printer to avoid delay in the pub- 

 lication, and will be included in the eleventh volume of Smithsonian 

 Contributions. They relate to temperature, winds, moon culminations, 

 twilight, halos, moisture, atmospheric pressure, and tides. The mere 

 enumeration of the objects which engaged the active mind of the 

 distinguished explorer, is sufficient, when we consider his feeble 

 physical powers, to account for the untimely loss which science and 

 humanity have been called on to deplore. 



2. Another paper shortly to be put to press consists of an account of 

 the results of a series of physical observations by Dr. Luis Berlandier, 

 the notice of which may perhaps be best introduced by a statement 

 of the following facts given in my Report to the Regents for 1854. 

 Dr. Luis Berlandier_, a member of the Academy of Geneva, visited 

 Mexico in 1826 for the purpose of making a scientific examination 

 of the country. Soon after his arrival he was appointed one of a 

 commission, organized by the then new republic, with the object 

 of defining the boundaries, extent, natural resources, &c., of the 

 northern or frontier States. The position gave him unusual facilities 

 for observation relative to the character of the country, and for 

 making collections to illustrate its natural history. He, however, 

 never returned to his native country, but married and settled in 

 Mexico, and there continued his researches until the period of his 

 death in 1851. In the year 1853 Lieutenant Couch, U. S. A., made a 

 scientific exploration in Mexico under the auspices of the Institution, 

 and was so fortunate as to procure the manuscripts and collections of 

 Dr. Berlandier. He presented to this Institution all of those which 

 related to meteorology and natural history, and offered to sell to 

 the government at a low price the remainder, containing historical 

 and geographical information, chiefly pertaining to the States of the 

 old republic which lay between the -"iabine and the Sierra Madre. It 

 is to be regretted that this proposition was not accepted, since in 



