74 S. Mis. 53. 



REPORT OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANT, IN CHARGE OF 

 THE METEOROLOGICAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



To Joseph Henry, LL. D., 



Secretary of the Sraithsonian Institution : 



Sir : I herewith submit to you a report, showing the condition of the 

 meteorological correspondence of the Institution during the year 1S52. 



With but few exceptions, there have been received regular monthly 

 returns of observations from all the stations previously reported, and it is 

 gratifying to find that the system has been extended by the addition of 

 several stations. The new observers reside chiefly in the western and 

 southern States — districts of country from which meteorological inform- 

 ation was much needed. The spirit manifested by the corps of observ- 

 ers has also improved ; as is manifest from the registers being care- 

 fully kept, and the desire of all who have but few instruments to supply 

 themselves in this respect, and at their own cost. It is to be regretted 

 that the limited means at the disposal of the Institution for this ol^ject, 

 and the many demands upon it for other purposes, render it inexpe- 

 dient, at present, to aid observers in the purchase of instruments. 



Soon after the occurrence of an earthquake in the central part of the 

 United States, on the 29th of April, 1852, a circular was issued by the 

 Secretary, requesting a report of any observations which had been 

 made or could be gathered relative to that event. Numerous replies 

 have been received, embodying facts sufficient to enable the Institution 

 to mark the point of chief intensity, and trace out the diverging lines 

 along which the earth-wave passed. 



Another circular has been sent out during the year, requesting 

 persons having in their possession any meteorological registers for 

 series of years previous to the files of the Institution, which com- 

 menced early in 1849, to transmit them for reduction. A large amount 

 of valuable information from various parts of this country has by this 

 means been obtained. As this collection is still in progress, a report 

 of its results is at this time withheld. The instruments belonging to the 

 Institution, and deposited with observers, remain as before reported. 



In addition to the necessary blank forms and directions for registra- 

 tion of the weather, the aurora, periodical phenomena of plants, and 

 the circulars for special observations just referred to, there have been 

 distributed to observers a copy of the following works, viz : Sixth "An- 

 nual Report of the Smithsonian Institution;" Espy's "Report on Meteor- 

 ology;" "Meteorological Report of the Surgeon General of the U. S. A.," 

 a sufficient number of copies having been kindly placed at the disposal 

 of the Institution by the Surgeon General for this purpose ; " Directions 

 for making collections in Natural History;" "Patent Office Report, 

 1850 ; " part 2d of " Guyot's Meteorological Tables ; " and other smaller 

 pubhcations, not necessary to be enumerated. 



I am, very respectflilly, your obedient servant, 



E. FOREMAN, 

 General Assistant Smithsonian Institution, 



