59 
requesting that, on account of the expense and the public 
interest, it may receive early attention. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Cuartes H. Davis, 
Chief of the Bureau. 
Proressor A. D. Bacue, President National Academy of Sciences. 
(Copy-) 
Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, 
ashington, May 21, 1863. 
Sir :—TI have the honor to inform the Department that 
the Charts and Sailing Directions, published by the late Su- 
perintendent of the Observatory, at the expense of the Gov- 
_ ernment, are regarded by hydrographers and scientific men 
as being prolix and faulty, both in matter and arrangement, 
to such an extent as to render the limited amount of original 
information which they actually contain costly and inac- 
cessible. 
I am prepared to recommend the discontinuance of the 
publication of these Charts and Sailing Directions. But, in 
order that this question of discontinuance may be decided 
with deliberation, I have to request permission to refer it to 
the National Academy of Sciences, for investigation, and 
report to this Department. 
T am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Cuartes H. Davis, 
Chief of the Bureau. 
Hon. Gipzon WeLLEs, Secretary of the Navy. 
The Committee appointed on this application consisted of 
Professor F. A. P. Barnard, Chairman, Professor J. H. 
Alexander, Mr. J. P. Lesley, Professor A. Caswell, Chan- 
