32 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



degree of cloudiness, the amount of precipitation, and, for a portion 

 of the time, the psychrometer. 



In addition to these fixed and regular observations, daily and special 

 notice was taken of all phenomena connected with atmospherical 

 changes, with storms, the aurora. &c. The barometrical observa- 

 tions are reduced to the level of the sea and the temperature of 32° 

 Fahrenheit. 



The author has given a series of general summaries deduced from 

 the whole period; and when a sufficient number of similar observa- 

 tions for long periods are collected and published, they will be sub- 

 mitted to the process of exhaustive investigation similar to those to 

 which the observations of Dr. Kane have been subjected, in order to 

 determine peculiar points of interest relative to the climate of the 

 United States. 



We have found that the printing of papers of this character re- 

 quires much time and is very expensive, since they are composed 

 almost entirely of rule and figure work. We think, however, the 

 value which will be attached to them will fully warrant the expendi- 

 ture on account of their publication. They will afford the data for 

 answering many questions which are propounded to the meteorolo- 

 gist, such as the period of recurrence of storms, the connexion of the 

 changes of the weather with the phases of the moon, &c. The means of 

 ascertaining the state of the atmosphere over a considerable portion of 

 the United States oh any day for the last quarter of a century will be 

 interesting in many cases, independent of scientific considerations. 



The report of the Regents to Congress for 1858, besides an ex- 

 position of the condition and operations of the Institution for that 

 year, was, as usual, accompanied by an appendix containing the report 

 of lectures, and other matter which has proved highly acceptable to 

 a large number of intelligent persons in every part of the country. 

 These reports, copies of which are especially solicited by teachers, 

 besides furnishing valuable knowledge not otherwise readily attain- 

 able, serve to diffuse information as to the operations of the Institu- 

 tion which tends to increase the number of its friends and co-opera- 

 tors, and to elevate popular conceptions in reference to science, as 

 well as to increase the number of its cultivators. 



The number of copies of the report ordered to be printed at the 

 last session was less than that of the preceding year, yet the supply 



