260 EXTEACTS FEOM THE CORRESPONDENCE. 



You are already aware, from previous correspondence with this department, 

 that the legislature of the province, at the instance of the chief superintendent 

 of education, authorized the establishment of a meteorological station in every 

 county in Upper Canada in connexion with the department of public instruction, 

 the observers being the head masters of grammar schools. The following in- 

 struments were obtained from England for each station : Barometer by Negretti 

 and Zambra; dry and wet bulb thermometers by the same; and maximum and 

 minimum thermometers b\ Cassella. These were compared with standards at 

 the new observatory by Mr. Glaisher, and again at the Toronto observatory. 

 They are excellent instruments, and may be relied on. Each station is also 

 supplied with a wind vane and rain gauge. Full instructions and tables, together 

 with forms for periodical reports, are provided for the observers. 



As some of the counties have hesitated to pay for the instruments, and in 

 others the observations were not duly taken, it was deemed necessary in 1865 

 to obtain further legislation and regulations on the subject. Although some 

 observers faithfully performed their duty under the former system, it was found 

 that more satisfactory results would be obtained by restricting the number of 

 stations and making a pecuniary allowance to observers for their labors. Our 

 stations are now ten (10) in number, situated at the most favorable points between 

 longitude 83° and 74° west, and latitude 42° and 46° north. The observers are 

 educated men, and graduates of universities. Arrangements have also been made 

 for the careful examination and comparison of the records of the observations at 

 this office. The results will appear monthly in our official journal. 



I send herewith copies of some recent regulations which we have issued to 

 OKr stations. 



As our meteorological establishments are now being placed on a more satis- 

 factory footing, we may hope to contribute information of permanent value ; and 

 your institution would confer a favor on this department by sending us as com- 

 plete a series of its meteorological reports, with any papers bearing on the sub- 

 ject, as it may be able to afford. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



Joseph Henry, Esq., LL. D., 



Secretary Smithsonian Institution, Washington,, D. C. 



From A. Panizzi, Principal Librarian. 



British Museum, July 20, 1865. 



olR : I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th May last, 

 informing me that on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution you have forwarded 

 to the British Museum, as a present to the trustees, upon certain conditions, a 

 type series of fossils from the upper Missouri, collected by Lieutenant War- 

 ren, and Dr. Hayden. 



In reply, I have to express the thanks of the trustees of the British Museum 

 for the very obliging offer which the managers of the Smithsonian Institution 

 have made to them, and I am to assure you of the readiness of the trustees to 

 reciprocate the kind feeling of interest which the managers have shown in the 

 improvement of the collections of the British Museum. Although the trustees 

 cannot accept a present under restrictive conditions, they are prepared, in this 

 instance, to meet the wishes of the managers of the Smithsonian Institution so 

 far as may be in their power, and I am accordingly directed to send you here- 

 with the copy of a letter on this subject from Professor Owen, the superintend- 

 ent of the departments of natural history in this museum, on whose views the 

 trustees are disposed to act. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, 



