10 S. Mis. 63. 



observers, an extended series of facts which are yielding deductions of 

 great interest in regard to the climate of this country and the meteo- 

 rology of the globe. 



The Institution has advanced the science of geology, by its researches 

 and original publications. It has made a preliminary exploration of 

 the remarkable region on the upper Missouri river called "the Bad 

 Lands," and is now printing a descriptive memoir on the extraordinary 

 remains which abound in that locality. It has assisted in explorations 

 relative to the distribution in this country of tlie remains of microscopic 

 animals found in immense quantities in different parts of the United 

 States. 



It has made important contributions to botan}^ by means of the 

 published results of explorations in Texas, New Mexico, and Califor- 

 nia; and by the preparation and publication of an extended memoir, 

 illustrated with colored engravings, on the sea-plants of the coast of 

 North America. 



It has published several important original papers on physiology, 

 comparntive nnatomy, zoology, and different branches of descriptive 

 natural history; and has prepared and printed, for distribution to trav- 

 ellers, a series of directions liDr collecting and preserving specimens. 



It has advanced teiTCStrial magnetism, by famishing instruments for 

 determining the elements of the magnetic force, to various exploring 

 expeditions; and by publishing the results of observations made under 

 its direction, at the expense of the government. 



It has collected and published the statistics of the libraries of the 

 United States; and perfected a plan of stereotyping catalogues, which 

 will render effective, as a combined whole, all the scattered hbraries 

 of the country. 



The Institution has also been instrumental in directing attention to 

 American antiquities, and has awakened such an interest in the subject 

 as will tend to the collection and study of all the facts which can be 

 gathered relative to the ancient inhabitants of this continent. It has 

 also rendered available for the purposes of the ethnologist and philan- 

 thropist the labors of our missionaries among the Dakotas, by publish- 

 ing a volume on the language of this tribe of Indians, and has done 

 good service to comparative philolog}^ by the distribution of directions 

 lor collecting Indian vocabularies. 



It has established an extended system of literary and scientific ex- 

 changes, both foreign and domestic, and annually transmits between the 

 most distant societies and individuals, hundreds of packages of valua- 

 ble works. It has presented its own publications, free of expense, to 

 all the first-class libraries of the world, and thus rendered them acces- 

 sible, as far as possible, to all persons who are interested in their study. 

 No restriction of copyright has been placed on their re-publication ; 

 and the truths which they contain are daily finding their way to the 

 general public, through the labors of popular writers and teachers. 

 The distribution of its publications and its system of exchanges has 

 served not only to advance and diffuse knowledge, but also to increase 

 the reputation, and, consequently, the influence of our country ; to pro- 

 mote a kindly and sympathetic feeling between the New World and 

 the Old — alike grateful to the philosopher and the philanthropist. 



