572 



NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



"Meissner Porzellan," pantomimic ballet in 

 one act and a prologue, by J. Golinelli, music by 

 Josef Hellmesberger, Jr. (Leipsic, Stadttheater, 

 Jan. 26), was received with great applause. The 

 invention of Meissen porcelain through Bottger, 

 the court alchemist of King August the Strong, 

 of Saxony, forms the leading idea of this charm- 

 ing production, which has become sufficiently 

 familiar in New York by its representation at 

 the Metropolitan Opera House, during the pres- 

 ent season, under the title of " Dresden China." 

 "Antiope," by Casati, music by Jacobi (Rome, 

 Teatro Argentina, in February). " Pierrot sur- 

 pris," ballet pantomime, scenarium by Th. Maison- 

 neuve, music by Adolphe David (Nantes, Grand 

 Theatre, in March). "Massilia," by Poigny, 

 music by Armand Todesco (Marseilles, Grand 

 Theatre, in April). " Ma mie la Lune," panto- 

 mime in one act, by Paolo de Lerme, music by 

 Jean Salvaney (Nantes, Grand Theatre, April 

 19). " Le Reve," in two acts, scenarium by Ed- 

 ouard Blau, music by Leon Gastinel (Paris, 

 Opera, June 9), was most favorably received, and 

 it will undoubtedly, judging by the opinions of 

 the best critics, prove a greater attraction than 

 " La Tempete," by Ambroise Thomas, last year. 

 There are many decorative and scenic effects in 



it, and the music is very pleasing. "Jeanne 

 d'Arc," pantomime, music by Ch. M. Widor 

 (Paris, Hippodrome, June 25). 



" Lola, o in alto mare," by Razzetto, music by 

 Galleani (Rome, Teatro Quirino, in October). 

 " Csardas," national ballet in three tableaus, by 

 Zaray, music by Eugen Stojanovits (Pesth, Royal 

 Opera House, Dec. 14). "Ein Tanzmarchen," 

 in four parts and fourteen tableaus, by Franx 

 Gaul and Josef Haszreiter, music by Josef Bayer 

 (Vienna, Hofoperntheater, Dec. 19), illustrates 

 the history of the dance, and in scenic effect and 

 magnificent mounting well-nigh surpasses every- 

 thing presented before. "Das March enbuch,'* 

 scenarium by Max, music by Perthe (Graz, 

 Stadttheater, Dec. 26). "I Thea zi," fantastic 

 ballet, by Razzetto, music by Galleani (Rome, 

 Teatro Quirino, in December). Besides there 

 were the following spectacular pieces : " Le Voy- 

 age de Suzette," by Durn and Chivot (Paris, 

 Theatre de la Gaite, Jan. 20). " L'Orient-Ex- 



Sress," by Paul Burani (Paris, Theatre du 

 hatelet, July 12). "Die Million, oder Vivat 

 Imperator," by A. Moszkowski and Richard 

 Nathanson, music by Raida, the choreographic 

 part by Adrien Gredelue (Berlin, Victoria- 

 Theater, Aug. 26). 



N 



NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 

 Historical. At the beginning of the civil war 

 in this country the Government found itself in 

 almost daily receipt of important suggestions 

 that demanded careful consideration. Many of 

 these were of a scientific nature. Thus, a new 

 explosive would be offered to the War Depart- 

 ment, or a new form of iron ship would be sent 

 to the Navy Department, and similar matters 

 that required investigation. At that time Alex- 

 ander D. Bache was Superintendent of the United 

 States Coast Survey ; Joseph Henry, Secretary of 

 the Smithsonian Institution ; James M. Gilliss in 

 charge of the United States Naval Observatory ; 

 and with other scientists then in Washington, 

 they were frequently consulted by the chiefs of 

 the various departments. It soon became ap- 

 parent that great advantage could be derived 

 by the active co-operation of men of science 

 throughout the country, many of whom, being 

 specialists, could at once furnish the desired in- 

 formation, and the formation of a National 

 Academy of Sciences, to be similar in character 

 to the Royal Society of London and the Acad- 

 emy of Sciences of Paris was urged upon the 

 Government. 



Formation. An act of Congress was passed 

 on March 3, 1863, incorporating the National 

 Academy, and the first meeting was held in New 

 York city, beginning on April 22, 1863. An or- 

 ganization was effected by the adoption of a con- 

 stitution and the election of the following offi- 

 cers: Alexander D. Bache, President; Joseph 

 Henry, Vice-President ; Louis Agassiz, Foreign 

 Secretary ; Wolcott Gibbs, Home Secretary ; and 

 Fairman Rogers, Treasurer. 



Functions. The duties of this new body 

 were to include, whenever called upon by any 

 department of the Government, the investiga- 



tion, examination, experimenting, and report 

 upon any subject of science or art, the actual ex- 

 penses of such work and report to be paid from 

 appropriations that may be made for the pur- 

 pose ; but the Academy was to receive no com- 

 pensation whatever for any services rendered to- 

 the United States Government. 



Membership. Its membership was to con- 

 sist of not more than fifty ordinary members, 

 who must be citizens of the United States. 

 This limitation was removed in 1870, but the 

 Academy is still conventionally restricted to one 

 hundred members. There are also fifty foreign 

 associates. The entire list is as follows : 



Abbe, Cleveland, elected in 1879, meteorologist at the 

 United States Signal-Service Office 2 Washington, D. C. 



Abbot, Henry Larcom, elected in 1872, engineer, 

 member of the United States Corps of Engineers, 

 with the rank of colonel and brevet rank of major- 

 general of volunteers. 



Agassiz, Alexander, elected in 1866, naturalist, Cura- 

 tor of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, (lam- 

 bridge, Mass., and regarded as the best authority in 

 the world on certain forms of marine life. 



*Agassiz, Louis, original member, naturalist, founder 

 and Curator of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 

 of Harvard College. 



* Alexander, Jobn Henry, original member, physicist, 

 Professor of Physics at the University of Pennsylvania, 

 and member of various Government commissions on 

 weights and measures for the United States Coast Sur- 

 vey. 



^Alexander, Stephen, original member, astronomer, 

 Professor ot Astronomy and Mechanics at Princeton 

 College. 



Allen, Joel Asaph, elected in 1876, naturalist, cura- 

 tor of animals and birds at the American Museum of 

 Natural History, New York city. 



*Bacbe, Alexander Dallas, original member, physicist, 

 Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey. 



* Dead. 



