59 



several positions the erection of tcnipoi-ary observatories 

 will be required, and a r'esidcnce of the observers for 

 three or four months to ascertain the absolute local time 

 of the phenomenon and the exact longitude. This accord- 

 ingly increases the extent of [preparation . 



Your committee would recommend the adoption of the 

 followins: memorial and resolves : — 



To the Honorable Senate and House of Rejjresentatives in 

 Congress assembled : 

 The Essex Institute, an organization located at Salem, 

 in the State of Massachusetts, for the promotion of Sci- 

 ence, Literature and the Arts, respectfully menKn'ialize 

 your Honorable Bodies to take into consideration the pro- 

 priety of granting a suitable appropriation to enable the 

 scientific corps connected Avith the Executive Branch of 

 the Government, and such others as may be associated 

 with them, to make a thorough and accurate observation 

 of the approaching transit of Venus. 



Resolved, That the Pi-esident and Secretary l)e author- 

 ized to sign the above memorial in behalf of the Essex 

 Institute and that the Secretary transmit the same, with a 

 certified copy of the doings of the Institute in relation 

 thereto, to the Hon. B. F. Butler, the Representative in 

 Congress from this district, with a request to present the 

 same and to use all proper means to secure a tavoral:)le 

 consideration of this measure. 



H. Wheatland, ^ 



James Kimball, > Committee. 



AY. P. Upham, ) 



ANCIENT TOPOGRAPHY OF SALEM. 



Ja:\ies Kimball, Esq., exhibited a map showing the 

 old topography of Salem and presented the results of a 

 careful examination of the early records of the county of 

 Essex, for the purpose of gleaning a class of historical 



