528 The Smithsonian Institution 



time and energies in this respect. He could not follow his 

 own inclinations, and while the quantity of his scientific work 

 was by no means small, and much of it was of great importance, 

 it was to a large extent such as came to him through the sev- 

 eral official positions of great trust and responsibility which he 

 was induced to accept. It will be considered, in this review, 

 under various appropriate heads along with other products 

 of the great Institution to which he gave the best energies 

 of his life, and where, after all, his services have doubtless 

 been more widely useful, and the total integral of their value 

 to mankind greater than if he had devoted himself exclusively 

 to scientific investigation. 



Following the general principles already referred to, the 

 Smithsonian Institution has promoted the science of physics 

 in two ways. Original research has been stimulated by the 

 occasional offer and award of prizes for accomplished work, 

 or pecuniary aid has been rendered those engaged in inves- 

 tigation, usually to the extent of assisting in the purchase of 

 necessary apparatus or appliances. Knowledge resulting 

 from investigation thus forwarded by the Institution or f7'om 

 other soiirces has been diffused by publication and extensive 

 distribution among libraries, learned societies, and scientific 

 men. The most tangible results are shown in its publications, 

 as, indeed, they often stand for the activity of the Institution 

 along the lines of both increase and diffusion of knowledge. 

 It is to them, therefore, that especial attention will be given 

 in this review ; and, for convenience, they will be classified 

 under the several well-known subdivisions of the subject of 

 physics. The limitation of time and space will not allow of 

 anything like an exhaustive presentation, even in abstract, 

 of all publications bearing the Smithsonian imprint, but the 

 most important will be briefly referred to in approximately 

 chronological order. 



