116 
others, of our action in this respect, and to ask whether you would not 
be disposed to codperate with us in seeking to secure from the Depart- 
ment facilities for the prosecution of biological and geological studies, 
in addition to the specific work of the Transit parties. 
If this recommendation should be presented to the Navy Department 
with the combined influence of several leading scientific societies at 
different points, it would assume almost a national character. We 
should be highly gratified to have the codperation of your Society in 
this movement, and therefore beg leave to lay the subject before you 
for consideration. We venture no suggestion as to the manner or form 
of your action, if taken, but only observe that the time that remains is 
now brief, and that whatever is done at all should be done at the 
earliest moment. 
With much respect, I remain, Sir, 
Yours very truly, 
(Signed.) D. S. Martin, 
Special Committee on Memorial. 
Response of the Secretary of the Navy. 
Navy DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 26th, 1874. 
Sir;—Your communication of the 15th inst. has been received and 
referred to Rear Admiral B. F. Sands, President of the Commission on 
the Transit of Venus, who replies as follows ;— 
““The Commission has had under consideration the question of the 
practicability of affording facilities for investigating the geology and 
natural history of the stations occupied by the parties of observation,— 
all the collections made to be deposited in the National Museum, 
Washington; but the difficulty of finding room on board the ship for 
any besides the regular observers, has deterred them from taking any 
decisive steps towards this end. The only point mentioned in Prof. 
Newberry’s communication, which will be actually visited, is Kerguelen 
Land; and if it is possible for any of the party there to make the 
necessary collections, the Commission would be glad to receive full 
suggestions respecting what is to be done, from any competent scienti- 
fic authority.” 
Very respectifully, ete., 
(Signed.) Gero. M. Roseson, 
Secretary of the Navy. 
PRoressor J. 5. NEWBERRY, 
President of the Lyceum of Natural History, 
New York City. 
