204 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



The apparatus for determining tlie elements of terrestrial magnetism, 

 mentioned in my last Report, as having been lent to Colonel Emory, has 

 been delivered to Colonel Graham, to be used on the Mexican Boundary 

 Survey. To replace these, the Institution has received permission to 

 order another set, from London, at the expense of the government; and 

 thus, by an addition to the number of instruments of this kind, the means 

 of promoting the science of terrestrial magnetism, in this country, will 

 be increased. 



The purchase of standard meteorological apparatus, and also the in- 

 struments which have been distributed to diff<?rent important stations, 

 throughout the country, is a part of the same plan. 



During the past year a considerable portion ot" the apparatus consti- 

 tuting the liberal donation of Dr. Hare, of Philadelphia, has been repaired 

 and fitted up ; and we hope, during the present season, to complete 

 the repairs of the remainder, and to place the wliole in a proper posi- 

 tion for exhibition and use. 



Library. 



It has been stated, that the programme of organization is intended to 

 harmonize the several requisitions of Congress, and the resolutions of 

 the Board of Regents, with a system of active operations, the influence 

 of which shall be as widely extended as practicable. Though almost 

 every one will admit the value of libraries, and the importance of col- 

 lecting in this country as great a variety of books as possible, yet it 

 may well be doubted whether the accumulation of a large number of 

 books wliich are to be found in almost ever}^ library of the country, is, 

 in the present state of the funds, to be expected or aimed at. It is be- 

 lieved that a portion of the income devoted tO-the library, may be more 

 efficiently expended in the promotion of the desired ends by other means, 

 and hence, it was resolved to make special collections of books ; par- 

 ticularly to procure such as are not in the country, and also, in order 

 to render more available those which are now in our libraries, to pre- 

 pare, as far as practicable, a general catalogue of all the books theyj 

 contain. 



In accordance with these views. Professor Jewett has devised a plan] 

 of facilitating the publication of catalogues of libraries, which bids fair 

 to be of much importance to the literature of the country. This plan j 

 has been submitted tor examination to a commission of gentlemen wellj 

 acquainted with the subject, and we have receivetl tt'om them a very! 

 favorable report recommen(hng its adoption. 



The propositions submitted to the commission for examination, were] 

 as follows : 



1. A plan for stereotyping catalogues of libraries by separate mova- 

 ble titles ; and 



2. A set of general rules, to be recommended for adoption, by the 

 different libraries of the United States, in the preparation of their cata- 

 logues. 



For a full account of Professor Jewett's plan, and of the advantages 

 anticipated from it, I must refer to his report herewith submitted. I 

 may, however, briefly allude to the leading principle of the plan, which 



