246 The Smithsonian Institution 



the physical sciences. In 1853 he received an appointment 

 in the Coast Survey, and was assigned to the reduction and 

 compilation of tide-tables, becoming after several promotions 

 chief of the tidal division of the Survey, which place he held 

 until 1885, when he resigned. Subsequently he devoted him- 

 self to the preparation of school-books designed to extend the 

 teaching and use of phonetic spelling. 



Mr. Avery's property lay chiefly in real estate in Wash- 

 ington, which has still to be disposed of, and his bequest has 

 not yet become effective. He has indicated a wish that it may 

 be employed partly in researches connected with the ether, 

 as well as in the printing of some mathematical tables. 



