Translation from the Astronomical Jour, of Hamburgh. '2'25 



Art. II. — Translation from Mr. Schiihmacher''s Astronomical 

 Journal., (Astronomische Nuchrichten^) Hamburgh., No. 

 137. On the plans., arrangements and methods^ proposed 

 and used by Mr. F. R. Hassler, with a view to an accu- 

 rate survey of the coast of the United States, by the Chev- 

 alier F. W. Bessel, Professor in the University of Ko- 

 nigsberg. Communicated by Prof. James Renwick, of 

 Columbia College, New York. 



In 1807, Mr. Hassler then in Philadelphia, was requested, 

 on the part of the government of the United States, to fur- 

 nish a plan for the survey of the whole coast of that coun- 

 try. This was done in a letter to Mr. Gallatin, which proves 

 great insight into the nature of such operations. It is evi- 

 dent from it, that the survey was to have been a work of 

 great extent, and such as should satisfy the requisites both of 

 geography and of navigation. 



In consequence of this plan, Mr. H. went to England to 

 procure the necessary instruments, (fee. A most complete 

 apparatus was brought together, consisting principally, of 

 instruments constructed upon Mr. H's own ideas, and in the 

 year 1816, the operation itself began. It appears to have 

 been interrupted soon after, and therefore not to have given 

 the expected results.* 



But Mr. H. describes his arrangements and methods in 

 a paper which has also been printed, as an extract from the 

 Philosophical Transactions of Philadelphia, which contains 

 so many new views in relation to instruments, that I believe 

 I shall make an agreeable communication to the readers of 

 this journal by an extract from this paper, which has proba- 

 bly not become very extensively known (in Germany.) Mr. 

 H. appears by it as a man, who would rather think for him- 



* The suspension of the operations for the survey of the coast of the Uni- 

 ted States, begun in so admirable a manner by Mr. Hassler, may be considered 

 as a national misfortune. It is such in truth, not so much from the loss of the 

 previous expenditures, in consequence of the delay, or from the deferring of 

 its advantages to a future period, as fiom the fact, that the principles and 

 methods proposed, and some of them actually used by Mr. Ha^?ler, were in 

 advance of the science of Europe at the period. As these principles and meth- 

 ods require the highest proficiency in mathematical and physical science, their 

 application to practice originally in the United States, would have redounded 

 to the national honor. 



Vol. XVI.— No. 2. 2 



