ASTRONOMICAL EXPEDITION. 



MESSAGE 



THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 



TUVN-MITTIM; 



The First Part of the Results of the United States Naval Astronomical Expedition. 



JULY 13, 1854. Laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed. 



JULY 25, 1854. Ordered, That 6,000 copies of the Report and 2,000 copies of the Observations be printed; 500 copies of each 

 for the use of the Secretary of the Navy, and 250 copies of each for the Superintendent of the Expedition. 



To the House of Representatives : 



I transmit herewith the enclosed communication from the Secretary of the Navy, respecting 

 the Observations of Lieutenant James M. Gilliss, of the United States Navy, and the accom- 

 panying documents. 



FRANKLIN PIERCE. 



WASHINGTON, July 12, 1854. 



NAVY DEPARTMENT, July 10, 1854. 



SIR : Under a clause of the act making appropriations for the naval service, approved August 

 3, 1848, directing the Secretary of the Navy " to expend five thousand dollars, or so much 

 thereof as may he necessary, in causing the observations to be made which have been recently 

 recommended to him by the American Philosophical Society and the Academy of Arts and 

 Sciences," I have the honor to state that Lieutenant James M. Gilliss, of the Navy, was 

 appointed to make the observations authorized ; for which purpose he proceeded to Santiago, in 

 Chile, accompanied by assistants, and prepared with the necessary instruments and facilities to 

 accomplish the wishes of Congress. In furtherance of this object, Lieutenant Gilliss has sent 

 to the Department the first part of the results of his work, accompanied by a letter addressed 

 to the Secretary of the Navy, under date of July 8, 1854, which I respectfully place before you 

 for such further disposition as to you may seem proper. 



With the highest respect, I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



J. C. DOBBIN. 



To the PRESIDENT. 



