162 PROCEEDINGS OF [Feb. 



accurate observation of meteorological plienoniena at the several mili- 

 tary and naval posts,, and that tliey report their proceedings at the 

 next regular meeting of the Institution. 



Mr. Bulfinch. from the committee, made a report upon Mr. D'Arcy 

 A. French's communication on grammar. 



Mr. Lawrence reported upon the Treasurer's accounts for the year 

 1841. 



Mr. Greenhow, from the Department of Astronomy and Natural 

 Philosophy, reported : 



That the Department recommends for )iublication in the transactions of the So- 

 ciety, the Meteorological Journal kept at the Observatory in Washington, by Lieut. 

 Gilliss, for the months of September, October, and November, 1841; as, also the 

 list of the observations of the mean declination of the magnetic needle, and t!ie 

 heights of the thermometer, and barometer, for each of the magnetic hours during 

 July, August, September, October, November, and December, 1840, as observed by 

 Lieut. Gilliss, at the observatory in Washington. 



That the Department having examined the letter addressed to the Institution, bv 

 Mr. J. H. Belcher, on the lOlh January, 1842. and the accompanying memorial, 

 "calling the attention of the I\Iembers of the House of Representatives of the 27th 

 Congress to the greJ.t importance of a precise determination of the longitudes of 

 the principal stations and posts in the United States," and recommending that 

 Congress should ordsr at a moderate expense, "the collection, reduction and gen- 

 eral discussion of the observations now available for that purpose," reports : 



That although it fully concurs with the letter and memorial, as to the importance 

 of having the longitudes of the principal cities, naval stations, and posts, in the 

 United States accurately determined, it nevertheless conceives that any measures on 

 the part of the Institution for the attainment of that object in the manner proposod 

 by the letter and memorial, would bo premature, inasmuch as observations have 

 been and are now being made in different parts of the United States, under the direc- 

 tion of the Navy Department, in connection with those also in progress by the offi- 

 cers and others in the squadron engaged in exploring the Pacific and Southern 

 oceans, from all which observations, after they shall have boen brouglit together, 

 computations will be made, and the results published under the auspices of the Navy 

 Department. Tiiese results will then be compared with each other, and with those 

 obtained at the principal observatories in Europs, and there can be no doubt that the 

 differences in longitude between the various points of observation on both side* of 

 our continent, and in Europe, will be thus determined with much accuracy. 



Mr. Greenhow?, from the same Department, made a report on 

 Professor W. H. C. Barlletl's paper on Observatories. 



Mr. Markoe made the following report on the subject of Ex- 

 changes: 



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