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282 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
OBITUARY. 
Prof. Bacur.—The death of Professor ALEXANDER Datuas Bacue, just 
announced, will awaken profound regret throughout a very large circle 
of —— friends. For the last thirty years he has been intimately con- 
nected with the progress of American Science. In some important de- 
Gherenastits he, more than any other man, may be regarded as the leader. 
He was eraduated at the reeves, Academy at West Point, in 1825, 
holding the first rank in his class. He was immediately appointed As- 
co . ——_ . bn ha in th Academy, and occu pied the position 
e yea ving as an officer in the Corps of Engineers for 
Kies, years, ‘ha saaiied fe accept the oid of Natural cae 
and Chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania, to which he ae 
in 1827. After filling this place with distinguished success, for an 
ber of years, he was called, in 1836, to the presidency of the Girard Col- 
lege, then recently dain btiahied3 in Philadelphia by the princely bequest of 
Stephen Girard. Six years later he received and accepted the appoint- 
ment of Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey, a post made 
ew men could have carried to it such ample scientific preparation 
much iastion! wisdom, and such signal, almost unrivalled, adini nis- 
sits talents. His annual reports to Congress, growing in fulness and 
extent as the work advanced, form an invaluable series of scientific papers. 
reputation. It is well known that eminent scientists in Europe, engag 
in the vast labors of geodesy ‘undertaken by the different governments, 
have sought with eagerness for the Reports of the American Coast Sur- 
vey, and have sara them, as regards accuracy and exhaustive thorough- 
hess, in t of works upon that subject. 
He has sciitributed many memoirs to our scientific bates 2 and many 
to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, of which 
he was twice president, and always a leading T 
original researches in the more progressive branches of physical inquiry, 
and are well worthy of attention not only as substantial donieibations to 
science, but as models of research. 
Daring his presidency of Girard College from 1836 to 1841, he spent 
a year abroad under the direction of the Board of ‘Trustees, " examine 
and report upon the state of education in Europe. The results of this 
Act of Congress, in 1863, the members of that body, intended to represent 
and direct the highest science of the cou ntry, unanimously elected him 
eir first president | i a ae of six years. Unhappily for the interests _ 
of science that period has been cut short. The disease which has now — 
terminated fatally, coda perhaps by over mental action, has we gens 
months been making inroads upon his fine physical constitution, 
