PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 307 



graphed from America, and seven telescopic comets from Europe 

 to this country. 



" Altliougli the discovery of planets and comets will probably 

 be the principal subject of the cable telegrams, yet it is not in- 

 tended to restrict the transmission of intelligence solely to that 

 class of observation. Any remarkable solar phenomenon pre- 

 senting itself suddenly in Europe, observations of which may be 

 practicable in America several hours after the sun lias set to the 

 European observer, — the sudden outburst of some variable star 

 similar to that which appeared in Corona borealis in 18G6, — un- 

 expected showers of shooting-stars, etc., would be proper subjects 

 for transmission by cable. 



" The announcement of this ai-rangement has called forth the 

 approbation of the astronomers of the world : and in regard to 

 it we may quote the following passage from the fifty-fourth annual 

 report of the Royal Astronomical Society of England : ' The 

 great value of this concession on the part of the Atlantic tele- 

 graph and other Companies, cannot be too highly prized, and 

 our science must certainly be the gainer by this disinterested act 

 of liberality. Already planets discovered in America have been 

 observed in Europe on the evening following the receipt of the 

 telegram, or within two or three days of their discovery ' "* 



Official Correspondence. — A vast amount of individual work 

 having in view the diffusion of knowledge, has been performed 

 by the correspondence of the Institution ; which may be best 

 described in the language of an extract from one of the early 

 Reports. " There is one part of the Smithsonian operations that 

 attracts no public attention, though it is producing important 

 results in the way of diffusing knowledge, and is attended perhaps 

 with more laborthau any other part. I allude to the scientific 

 correspondence of the Institution. Scarcely a day passes in 

 which communications are not received from persons in different 

 parts of the country, containing accounts of discoveries, which 

 are referred to the Institution, or asking questions relative to 

 some branch of knowledge. The rule was early adopted to give 

 respectful attention to every letter received, and this has been 

 faithfully adhered to from the beginning up to the present 

 time. ." . . Requests are frequently made for lists of appa- 

 ratus, for information as to the best books for the study of special 



* Smithsoman Report for 1873, p. 33. Hi 1876, a stellar outburst in the 

 "Swan' observed by Dr. Schmidt of Atliens, on the 24th of November, 

 was announced. Less brilliant than the similar outburst which occurred 

 in the northern "Crown" in May 18(36, it continued to decline through 

 the month of December, and at the close of the year, had dwindled from 

 the third to the eighth magnitude. This may possibly be the same " tem- 

 porary star" — seen in Cyqi^ns in 1600, and again in 1670: and having 

 therefore a period of variability of about 69 years. 



81 



