SUPPLEMBETARY PAPERS. 91 
expressed by others present, that the Greenwich Meridian having 
been accepted as First Meridian, might be looked upon by the British 
Government as an equivalent, which might Jead them to accede to the 
Metre Convention of 1875. The last result did actually take place 
last year. 
In the meantime the Government of the United States had re- 
ceived replies from the greater number of other Governments, ex- 
pressing their readiness to send delegates to the proposed Interna- 
tional Conference ; and after that it had been established in Rome, 
that unanimity in relation to the determination of a First Meridian 
was proportionably easy of attainment, the Government of the United 
States sent invitations to all civilized States to attend a Congress 
which should be held at Washington October 1, 1884. 
Tn this place (Russia) as a further preparation for the Conference, 
on the proposal of the Geographical Society, a Special Commission 
was appointed, consisting of representatives of the War and Marine 
Departments, of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, and the Geo- 
graphical Society, in order to examine into the question in connec- 
tion with the main line of discussion, to signify the persons to be 
delegated to Washington on the part of Russia, and to submit and 
draw up instructions for their guidance. It may here be incidentally 
mentioned that with regard to these instructions, the purport of 
which was set forth in a short paper written by one of the Commis- 
sion, Lieutenant-Colonel Rylke, that in all essential points they fully 
agree with the resolutions passed at Washington ata later date. The 
following delegates to Washington were recommended by the Com- 
mission and therefore named by the Government :—1. The Russian 
Ambassador to the United States, C. von Struve, who through his 
extended travels and his geographical labours in Central Asia, pos- 
sesses at the same time special qualities for the scientific discussions 
which might be looked for. 2. Chief of Caucasian Survey, General 
Major Stebnitzki, well known through his not less comprehensive as 
carefully executed geodetic labours, and for the marked scientific spirit 
with which they have been carried out. 3. Herr Kologruvoff, mem- 
ber of the Council of Routes and Communications. 
Other countries were represented at the Washington Conference 
as follows :—United States, 5 delegates ; Great Britain, 4; Spain, 
3; Germany, France, Hawaii, Mexico and Chili, 2 each. The re- 
maining States had one delegate. The diplomates accredited to the Goy- 
ernment of the United States for the most part also assumed similar 
duties ; for the prominent questions came before them for considera- 
tion not so much in a scientific point of view as from the standpoint 
of general use and international communication. But accurate science 
was also pre-eminently represented at the Congress. Without regard to 
the many experienced men prominent from their geodetic and hydro- 
graphic labours, who with right may claim to be held as efficient 
