INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 



Washington, STarj 17, 1858. 

 Professor Joseph Henry, LL.D., 



Secretary of (he Smithsonian Institution: 



Dear Sir : The records of the meteorological observations made under the 

 direction of Dr. Kane, in the second expedition to the Arctic regions, were placed 

 in my hands by his late lamented father, Judge Kane, in December last. 



Dr. Kane had selected Assistant Charles A. Schott, of the Coast Survey, for 

 the reduction of a considerable portion of the observations made in that expedi- 

 tion; and I, therefore, placed these in Mr. Schott's possession for reduction and 

 discussion. The work has been faithfully performed, and I recommend it for 

 publication in the " Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge." It is proper to 

 state that the instruments were furnished in part by the Smithsonian Institution, 

 and that the computations have been made at its expense. 



Very respectfully, yours, 



A. D. BACHE. 



