ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY 41 



The scientific instructions on astronomy were prepared by Simon 

 Newcomb, and J. E. Hilgard; on magnetism, force of gravity, 

 ocean physics and meteorology, by J. E. Hilgard; on natural 

 history, by S. F. Baird; on geology by F. B. Meek; on glaciers, 

 by Louis Agassiz. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the 

 Navy, June 9, 1871, and printed in the pamphlet mentioned 

 above, Professor Henry remarked: 



" . . . . The expedition, except in its relation to geographical discovery, is not 

 of a scientific character, and to connect with it a full corps of scientific observers, 

 whose duty it should be to make minute investigations relative to the physics of the 

 globe, and to afford them such facilities with regard to time and position as would 

 be necessary to the full success of the object of their organization, would mate- 

 rially interfere with the views entertained by Captain Hall, and the purpose for 

 which the appropriation was evidently intended by Congress. 



" Although the special objects and peculiar organization of this expedition are 

 not primarily of a scientific character, yet many phenomena may be observed and 

 specimens of natural history be incidentally collected, particularly during the long 

 winter periods in which the vessel must necessarily remain stationary; and 

 therefore, in order that the opportunity of obtaining such results might not be lost, 

 a committee of the National Academy of Sciences was appointed to prepare a 

 series of instructions on the different branches of physics and natural history, and 

 to render assistance in procuring the scientific outfit." 18 



This expedition, as is well known, ended in disaster. Having 

 reached the latitude 82 11' N. on August 29, 1871, the highest 

 attained by any explorer up to that time, Hall was soon after- 

 ward taken suddenly ill at Thank God Harbor, Greenland, and 

 died there on November 8, i87i. 19 



18 Instructions for Expedition toward North Pole from Hon. Geo. M. Robeson. Appendix, 

 pp. 7, 8. 



"In 1871 six members of the Academy, Messrs. Meigs, Peirce, Hilgard, Baird, Henry and 

 Barnard (F. A. P.), addressed a letter to the Hon. William M. Stewart, chairman of the 

 Senate Committee on Mines and Mining, recommending that means be provided for testing 

 the economic value of Western coals. The letter was printed as Senate Miscellaneous Docu- 

 ment no. 74, 4ist Congress, 3d Session. In 1875 the Academy adopted the following 

 resolution on the subject: "Resolved, That the National Academy recommends that an appro- 

 priation be made by Congress for completing and extending to all known American coals 

 the series of experiments now to be made by the Navy Department under an appropriation 

 of Congress, and published in the report of W. R. Johnson on American Coals." (See 

 Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. i, p. in.) The following year the Academy again adopted the 



