1841.] THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION. 107 



From Peter S. Du Ponceau, President of the American Philoso- 

 phical Society, Philadelphia : Suggesting that the Picture of M. 

 Guizot, painted for the Americans in Paris, and destined for Wash- 

 ington, might be placed in the Hall of the Institution. 



From Mr. James Glenn, of JVew-York State : Transmitting a 

 manuscript on Light, he, to be laid before the Institution. 



From Henry Bauer, New- York : Proposing to the Institution to 

 exchange objects of Natural History, with C. A. Kiister, Professor 

 at the Technical Gymnasium, at Erlangen, in Bavaria. 



From F. L. Castelnau, New- York: Offering observations in 

 explanation of the so called Shower of Blood, lately witnessed in 

 Tennessee. 



From the Hon. Mr. Granger, Postmaster General: Consenting, 

 in reply to a request from the National Institution, to deposit a col- 

 lection of Plants, lying unclaimed in the dead letter ofBce. 



The following communication from Mr. John Pickering, of Bos- 

 ton, to the Corresponding Secretary, was submitted to the meeting. 



Boston, September 1, 1841. 



Dear Sir : I have received your letter, enclosing a copy of the amended consti- 

 tution of " The National Institution for the Promotion of Science" in the United 

 States, and I will now have the honor to submit some considerations on the subject 

 of that interesting association. 



The object of the National Institution, as described in the general terms of the 

 original plan, is " to promote science and the useful arts ;" and the subjects in- 

 tended to be comprised in that general description are arranged under eight depart- 

 ments, or classes, as follows : 



1. Astronomy, Geography, and Natural Philosophy. 



2. Natural History. 



3. Geology and Mineralogy. 



4. Chemistry. 



5. The Application of Science to the Useful Arts, 



6. Agriculture. 



7. American History and Antiquities. 



8. Literature and the Fine Arts. 



All these subjects, I need not say, are entitled to the fostering cafe of a rich and 

 flourishing people, who are ambitious of sustaining an equal rank with those illus- 

 trious nations to whose researches in the same sciences the inhabitants of both con- 

 tinents are so largely indebted for the various arts and comforts of social life which 

 so much distinguish the present age. It is true that the ultimate results of pro- 

 found investigations in mathematical, or even physical science, are not always so 

 obvious as to command the immediate approbation and encouragement of Govern - 



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