266 Report of the Regents of the' University, 



sometimes to the amount of 15 minutes, between sun-rise and the 

 middle of the afternoon, and that it will, before the next morning, 

 return to its mean direction. 



Much useful information may be obtained by examining well mark- 

 ed lines of various ages, and comparing their present with their ori- 

 ginal magnetic bearings. 



In regard to the subject now presented to your notice, the Re- 

 gents claim no mandatory authority, especially over colleges ; it 

 therefore comes to you as a recommendation, that you will co-operate 

 with those who preside over other institutions, for carrying into effect 

 a measure deemed important for the promotion of science, and which 

 may be considered of still greater importance in matters touching con- 

 flicting claims between individuals of our State. It is therefore hoped 

 that, impressed with a due sense of the general purposes for which 

 the institution over which you preside has been created, this repre- 

 sentation, made on behalf of the Regents, may not be disregarded, 

 and that hereafter they may be furnished by the colleges and acade- 

 mies, in their annual reports, with observations made by them on the 

 direction of the magnetic needle compared with that of the true me- 

 ridian, and that a detailed account be given by each, of the manner 

 in which its meridian line has been established. 



To such institutions as are not provided with good compasses, 

 those made by Mr. Hanks, of Troy, having a vernier appended to 

 one end of the needle, are recommended as the best that can now 

 be procured. S. De Witt, Chancellor. 



We learn from Mr. De Witt, that should the regents be favored 

 with the results of observations made in colleges and academies, and 

 doubtless by duly qualified individuals in other states, they will be no- 

 ticed in the annual reports and published in the legislative documents. 



We beg leave earnestly to recommend this subject to the attention 

 which it so well deserves. It is an object of great national importance, 

 and the effort could not originate from a more respectable source. 



We understand that to enforce the importance of making obser- 

 vations and of preserving records of the variations of the magnetic 

 needle, while surveys of the public lands are made, the following in- 

 teresting facts have been mentioned to the Secretary of State, and as 

 the importance of the recommendation is not diminished but rather 

 enhanced by dme, we republish the statement. 



After the passage of the act of Congress of 1796, organizing the 

 United States Land Office, the very responsible appointment of Sur- 



