THE 
AMERICAN 
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, &c. 
Art. I.—The Coast Survey of the United States. 
Tue interest which the readers of this Journal must have 
always felt in the condition and progress of the United States 
coast survey, has been very much (and naturally so) increased 
by the appointment of Dr. Bache to‘ the office of superintendent. 
The work is now exclusively under American control, and 
though science, ‘as broad and general as the casing air,’ recog- 
nizes no invidious distinction of age or climate, yet reproaches 
which it is not worth while to remember, still less to repeat, have 
forced this consideration upon the notice of all those who feel a 
just pride in the scientific reputation of the country. 
Among the readers of this Journal the present superintendent 
numbers many personal friends, and many others, who, governed 
by his reputation, gave the influence of their names to secure his 
nomination for his present responsible office, after Mr. Hassler’s 
death. ‘To these gentlemen, the successful prosecution of the 
coast survey has become a matter of more than ordinary in- 
terest. ‘They may be said to have assumed a responsibility with 
regard toit. ‘They will be glad then to learn something of its. 
scientific details. 
The fundamental principles of a geodetic survey, are of too 
elementary a character to be treated in this place. Neither will 
the reader look here for an abstract of the last report, showing 
the space occupied, and the amount of labor performed. Both 
of these topics have been recently handled with great clearness 
and elegance, in aspopular form, by a writer in the “ Biblical 
Vol. xxix, No. 2.—July—Sept. 1845. 30 
