286 MEMORIAL OF JOSEPH HENRY. 



to see gratified. That the realization of this beneficent project is 

 only a question of time, is little doubtful ; for it cannot be supposed 

 that collections so valuable, and so manifestly beyond the capacities 

 of the Institution, will be suffered to waste in uselessness. And 

 when established, its being and its benefits will in no small degree 

 be due to him who first realizing its necessity, and most appre- 

 ciating its importance, with unwearying perseverance for twenty- 

 five years omitted no opportunity of urging upon members of 

 Congress its importunate claims. 



Meteorological Work. In the conduct of what were appropri- 

 ately called the "active operations" of the Institution under the 

 first section of the programme (in contradistinction to the local and 

 statical objects of the second section), a rare energy and promptness 

 was exhibited. The very first Report of the Secretary announced 

 not only the acceptance and preparation for publication of an elab- 

 orate work by Messrs. Squier and Davis, on explorations of " Ancient 

 Monuments of the Mississippi Valley," but the commencement of 

 official preparations "for instituting various lines of physical 

 research. Among the subjects mentioned by way of example in 

 the programme, for the application of the funds of the Institution, 

 is terrestrial magnetism. - - - Another subject of research 

 mentioned in the programme, and which has been urged upon the 

 immediate attention of the Institution, is that of an extensive sys- 

 tem of meteorological observations, particularly with reference to 

 the phenomena of American storms. Of late years in our country 

 more additions have been made to meteorology than to any other 

 branch of physical science. Several important generalizations have 

 been arrived at, and definite theories proposed, which now enable 

 us to direct our attention with scientific precision to such points 

 of observation as cannot fail to reward us with new and inter- 

 esting results. It is proposed to organize a system of observations 

 which shall extend as far as possible over the North American 

 continent. - - - The present time appears to be peculiarly 

 auspicious for commencing an enterprise of the proposed kind. 

 The citizens of the United States are now scattered over every 

 part of the southern and western portion of Northern America, 

 and the extended lines of telegraph will furnish a ready means of 



