150 
ation, in which, no doubt, a feeling of national pride mingled itself 
with his ardor for the advancement of science, consisted primarily 
in the establishment of an observatory, to which the trustees of 
Girard College contributed a full set of instruments, combining all 
the latest improvements, and which was supported by the American 
Philosophical Society and by a number of liberal and intelligent in- 
dividuals. The observations which were here continued at short 
intervals, both by day and night, for five years, form a rich mine 
of statistics from which, until within the last few years of his life, 
the professor drew a highly interesting series of results without 
exhausting the material.’’* Of this Girard College Magnetic Ob- 
servatory, in which, by the untiring labors of Professor Bache him- 
self and his efficient assistants, this great wealth of valuable scientific 
material was gathered, no vestige remains. Not only is there no 
trace of the building itself or any of its parts to be found within 
the walls of that institution, but there is even a considerable differ- 
ence of opinion as to its exact location. No single spot in Phila- 
delphia surpasses this in scientific interest. May we not hope that 
the trustees of Girard College will see to it that the exact site of 
this observatory is accurately determined and that at least a tablet 
be placed thereon to mark a spot so important as a magnetic cen- 
trey 
In November, 1843, Professor Bache was appointed Superintend- 
ent of the Coast Survey of the United States; and, a month later, 
Superintendent of Weights and Measures. ‘‘ The volume of testi- 
monials and recommendations,’’ says Dr. Gould, ‘‘upon the 
strength of which this appointment was made, has been shown me; 
and their number and character has madea deep impression. I 
cannot believe that such a weight of recommendation was ever 
brought at any time in support of a candidate for office on purely 
intellectual grounds. I can think of no man in the country, emi- 
nent in physical science, or holding a prominent scientific position, 
whose name was not signed to some one of that voluminous mass of 
memorials asking the appointment of Professor Bache. All the sci- 
* “Biographical Memoir of Alexander Dallas Bache,’’ by Joseph Henry, Biographical 
Memoirs Nat. Acad. Sciences, Vol. i, p. 181 Read April 16, 1869. 
+ Mr. Charles H, Cramp, of this city, and Mr. George Davidson, of San Francisco, both 
members of the American Philosophical Society, were assistants to Prof. Bache in this 
observatory. Mr. Cramp recently gave to the writer an extremely interesting account of 
the building and of the instruments contained within it, as well as of the methods of 
observation which were pursued in the determinations. 
