EULOGY ON PROFESSOR ALEXANDER DALLAS BACHE. IQl 



creditable prosecution. Not only was a largely-increased appropriation 

 needed to carry out this more comprehensive plan, but also to meet the 

 expenses consequent upon the extension of the shore-line itself. Our 

 sea-coast; when the survey commenced, already exceeded in length that 

 of any other civilized nation, but, in 1845, it was still more extended by 

 the annexation of Texas, and again, in 1848, by our acquisitions on the 

 Pacific. Professor Bache was in the habit of answering the question 

 often propounded to him by members of Congress, " When will this 

 survey be completed ?" by asking, " When will you cease annexiug new 

 territory f a reply not less significant at the present day than when it 

 was first given, and which may continue long to be applicable under 

 the expansive tendencies of our national j)olicy. 



When Professor Bache took charge of the survey, it was still almost 

 in its incipient stage, subjected to misapprehension, assailed by unjust 

 prejudice, and liable, during any session of Congress, to be suspended 

 or abolished. When he died, it had conquered prejudice, silenced oppo- 

 sition, and become established on a firm foundation as one of the perma- 

 nent bureaus of the executive Government. The importance of the 

 work, which was always highly appreciated by the mariner, became 

 strikingly obvious to the general public through the service which it 

 rendered during the late war, in furnishing accurate charts and sailing 

 directions for the guidance of our squadrons along the southern coast. 

 iSTor was this alone ; an active participation was also borne by the officers 

 of the survey in the attack of the United States oSTavy on Sumter, Port 

 Koyal, Fort Fisher, Mobile, New Orleans, and other strongholds, while 

 constant aid was rendered by them in the navigation of the inlets and 

 channels, and in the avoidance of hidden rocks or shoals with which 

 none could be more minutely acquainted. Though the value of the sur- 

 vey was signally conspicuous on these occasions, it needs but little 

 reflection to be convinced of its essential connection with the general 

 prosperity of the country. Whatever diminishes the danger of depart- 

 ure from or an approach to our shores facilitates commerce, and thus 

 renders more valuable the products of our industry, even in portions 

 of our land most remote from the sea-board. But the survey should not 

 be viewed alone iu its economical relations, since, as an enlightened and 

 liberal i^eople, we owe it to the great community of nations and the 

 cause of humanity to supply the world Avith accurate charts of our pre- 

 carious coast, as well as to furnish it with all the other aids to safer 

 navigation which the science and experience of the age may devise. 



Professor Bache, with his enlightened appreciation of the value of 

 abstract science, kept constantly in view the various problems relative 

 to the physics of the globe, which are directly or even incidentally con- 

 nected with the survey of the coast, and ever cherished the hope of 

 being i>ermitted to complete his labors by their solution. Among these 

 was a new determination of the magnitude and form of the earth, and 

 the variations in the intensity of terrestrial gravity at various points on 



