22 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



observations which, though not made with great precision, will still be 

 of value in delineating the general direction of the magnetic lines in 

 different parts of the United Slates. Steps have been taken to collect 

 all the existing materials relative to this subject, with the view of sub- 

 mitting them in due time to reduction and careful investigation. 



CoiTespo7ide?icc. — There is one part of the Smithsonian operations that 

 attracts no public attention, though it is producing, it is believed, im- 

 portant results in the way of diffusing knowledge, and is attended, per- 

 haps, wilii more labor than any other part. I allude to the scientific 

 correspondence of the Institution. Scarcely a day passes in which 

 fximmunications are not received from persons in different parts of tlie 

 country, containing accounts of discoveries, which are referred to the 

 Institution, or asking questions relative to some branch of knowledge. 

 The rule was early adopted to give respectful attention to every letter 

 r(^ccived, and this has been faidifully adhered to from the beginning up 

 to the present time. 



These communications relate to a great variety of subjects. Any 

 topic which strongly excites the attention of the public at a given 

 time, such as the announcement in the papers of a wonderful discov- 

 ery, or an important invention which promises to introduce extensive 

 changes in the useful arts, is sure to bring upon the Institution an 

 increase of labor in the way of correspondence. The ordinary in- 

 quiries addressed to the Secretary relate to the principles of mechanics, 

 electricity, magnetism, meteorology, names of specimens of plants, min- 

 erals, insects, and, in short, to all objects or phenomena of a remark- 

 able or unusual character. 



Requests are frequently made for lists of apparatus, for information 

 as to the best books for the study of special subjects, hints for the 

 organization of local societies, &c. Applications are also made for infor- 

 mation by persons abroad relative to particular subjects respecting this 

 country. When an immediate reply cannot be given to a question, the 

 subject is referred, by letter, to some one of the Smithsonian co-labor- 

 ers, to whose line of study it pertains; and the answer is transmitted to 

 the inquirer, either under the name of the person who gives the informa- 

 tion or under that of the institution, according to the circumstances of 

 the case. 



There is no country on the face of the earth in which knowledge is 

 so generally diffused as in the United States, none in which there is 

 more activity of mind or freedom of thought and discussion, and in 

 which there is less regard to what should be considered as settled and 

 well established principles. It will not therefore be surprising that the 

 Institution should be called upon to answer a great number of commu- 

 nications intended to subvert the present system of science, and to 

 ostabhsh new and visionary conceptions in its stead, and that numerous 

 letters should be received pertaining to such subjects as the quadrature 

 of the circle, the trisection of the angle, the invention of self-moving 

 machines, the creation of power, the overthrow of the Newtonian sys- 

 tem of gravitation, and the invention of new s^^stems of the universe. 



Many of these communications are of such a character that, at first 

 sight, it might seem best to treat them with silent neglect; but the rule 



