346 



NATURE 



{August 8, 1889 



tial pole."' The region examined lies about 27" from the 

 zone of the Milky Way, but is nearly reached by a faint 

 -extension from it Since only one eighth magnitude 

 -star, and none brighter, are included in it, the study of 

 -distribution, for which it offers some materials, may be 

 said to begin with the ninth magnitude. A single glance 

 -at the synoptical table suffices to show that the numerical 

 ■representation of the higher magnitudes is inadequate. 

 The small stars are overwhelmingly too few for the space 

 they must occupy if of average brightness ; and they are 

 too it.^ in a constantly increasing ratio. Either, then, 

 the diminishing orders form part of a heterogeneous col- 

 lection of stars of all sizes at nearly the same distance 

 from us (about that corresponding to ninth magnitude) ; 

 or they belong to attenuated star-layers stretching to 

 a much vaster distance. A criterion might be supplied 

 by Prof. Holden's plan^ of charting separately stars of 

 successive magnitudes over the same area, and judging 

 of their connection or disconnection by the agreement or 

 disagreement in the forms of their groupings. 



mnsmzs 



i/AGS.aO 95 10 Q lOS JIO JI-5 12-0 12-5 130 13-5 140 145 ISO 



Distribution of 934 star<; within i° of the pole, showing the ratio of numbers 

 to space far each half-magnitude. 



The accompanying diagram shows graphically the de- 

 crease of density outward, deducible from Prof. Picker- 

 ing's numbers on the sole supposition of the equal 

 average lustre of each class of stars. Those of the 

 ninth are the most closely scattered ; the intervals be- 

 tween star and star widen rapidly and continuously (for 

 the sudden dip at 9-5 magnitude is evidently accidental) 

 down to 115 magnitude, when a slight recovery, lasting to 

 the thirteenth magnitude, sets in. How far these changes 

 are of a systematic character, can only be decided from 

 far wider surveys. A. M. Clerke. 



TWO AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS. 



I. — The Smithsonian Institution. 



TN 1826, Mr. James Smithson, F.R.S., an English 

 •*■ gentleman (a natural son of the first Duke of 

 Northumberland), in a fit of pique at the action of the 

 Committee of the Royal Society, who had declined to 

 accept a scientific paper he had submitted, bequeathed to 



' Haniard Annals, vol. xviii. p. 138. 



^ Recommended in the Centuty Magazine for September i838, as well as 

 in "Washburn Publications," vol. ii. p. 113. 



the United States of America a large sum of money, 

 (^105,000), " to found at Washington under the name of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." 



The question of how knowledge might be best in- 

 creased and diffused with _;^ 105,000 then arose for 

 discussion. 



The President of the United States applied to a 

 number of persons, " versed in science and familiar with 

 the subject of public education, for their views as to the 

 mode of disposing of the fund best calculated to meet 

 the intentions of Smithson and be most beneficial to 

 mankind." 



The President of Brown University (Prof. Wayland) 

 proposed a University to teach languages, law, and 

 mental philosophy (Arts), without Science. Ur. Thomas 

 Cooper, of South Carolina, proposed a University to 

 teach science only, and to exclude Latin and Greek, 

 literature, law, and medicine. Mr. Richard Rush pro- 

 posed a Museum with grounds attached sufficient to 

 reproduce seeds and plants for distribution ; a press to 

 print lectures, &c.,and courses of lectures on physical and 

 moral science, and on government and public law. The 

 Hon. John Ouincy Adams proposed the establishment of 

 an astronomical Observatory, with instruments, and a 

 small library. Prof. W. B. Johnson proposed the estab- 

 lishment of an institution for experimental research in 

 physical science. Mr. Charles L. Fleischman proposed 

 the establishment of an agricultural school and farm. 

 The Hon. Asher Robbins proposed a literary and scien- 

 tific institution ; and memorials were presented to 

 Congress in favour of appropriating the fund for annual 

 prizes for the best original essays on the various subjects 

 of the physical sciences ; for the establishment of a system 

 of simultaneous meteorological observations throughout 

 the Union ; for a National Museum ; and for a Library. 



For ten years the Congress of the United States 

 wrestled with the interpretation of the words "the in- 

 crease and diffusion of knowledge among men." The 

 discussions were numerous and irritating ; and it was 

 repeatedly proposed to send the money back to England. 

 Finally Congress was wise enough to aknowledge its own 

 ignorance, and authorized a body of men to find some 

 one who knew how to settle the question. Joseph Henry 

 was chosen. His idea was accepted and acted upon. 

 "To increase knowledge men were to be stimulated to 

 original research by the offer of rewards for original 

 memoirs on all subjects of investigation ; to diffuse know- 

 ledge the results of such research were to be published ; " 

 and in addition it was decided to issue a series of reports 

 giving an account of new discoveries in science, and of 

 the changes made from year to year in all branches of 

 knowledge not strictly professional ; as well as to publish 

 occasionally separate treatises of general interest ; and 

 all these were to be distributed amongst the public 

 institutions of the world. 



In the result the Smithsonian Institution was estab- 

 lished for the promotion of original research, and the 

 diffusion of the same, and it now distributes to 3700 

 public institutions in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, 

 the following publications : — 



" The Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge," of 

 which twenty-six volumes in a quaito series have been 

 issued, comprising memoirs and records of original in- 

 vestigations ; researches in what are believed to be new 

 truths ; efforts to increase human knowledge. " The 

 Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections," an octavo series, 

 already numbering thirty-four volumes, containing re- 

 ports on the present state of our knowledge of particular 

 branches of science ; instructions for digesting and collect^ 

 ing facts and materials for research ; lists and synopses 

 species of the organic and inorganic world ; reports of es 

 plorations ; aids to bibliographical investigations, &< 

 " The Annual Reports of the Board of Regents of tl 



