Prof. Lovering on the American Prime Meridian. 185 
toa printed circular addressed to me; which, as it expresses the 
history of the measure so far as it has yet proceeded, more felici- 
tously than I can hope to do, I take the liberty of introducing 
here as the preface to what I have to say. 
step in my progress. 
Mr. Preston, in his reply (dated August 7) to this communica- 
tion, directed me “to bring the subject of an ‘American Prime 
Meridian’ before the American Association for the Advancement 
of Science, to convene at Cambridge, Mass., on the 14th instant, 
for the purpose of soliciting the opinions of the principal mathe- 
maticians and astronomers upon that highly interesting subject.” 
In compliance with these instructions, I submitted to the Asso- 
ciation a paper,* the same in substance as my letter to the Hon. 
Secretary, which, upon motion of Professor A. D. Bache, Super- 
intendent of the U. 8S. Coast Survey, was referred to a committee, 
consisting of twenty-two members, (whose names are subjoined, ) 
with instructions ‘to send a copy of their Report to the Hon. 
William Ballard Preston, Secretary of the Navy.’ 
A meeting of as many of this committee as were then present 
was held, and a sub-committee, consisting of Lieut. Davis, Prof. 
Bache, and Lieut. Maury, was appointed to conduct the corres- 
pondence, and to execute the instructions of the Association. 
The persons composing the whole of this committee are so 
remote from each other as to preclude the possibility of a general 
Meeting to discuss this question, and agree upon any common 
report; it has been determined, therefore, as the best means of 
obtaining their views, to address each member of the committee 
Separate] 
Accordingly, I have the honor, as chairman of the sub-commit- 
tee, to transmit to you a copy of the paper presented to the Asso- 
ciation by myself, and also of another paper on the Prime Meri- 
dian, by Professor Holton, referred to the committee, and to as 
Your earl y attention to this communication. # 
* See this Journal, viii, 394, November, 1849. 
Srconp Sxries, Vol. IX, No. 26.—March, 1850. 24 
