14 EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



for the increase of the edition, and have been assured by many Senators 

 and Representatives that this would be made. The applications for the 

 report have become so numerous that it is impossible to supply all who 

 are entitled to receive it. In this connection the propriety should be 

 urged upon Congress of ordering new editions of such of the reports as 

 have been stereotyped. The printing of these could be done at very 

 little expense, and would enable the Institution to furnish volumes, for 

 which there is daily application from members of Congress in behalf of 

 libraries and public institutions, to complete sets of the series. 



In addition to the report of the Secretary, giving an. account of the 

 operations, expenditures, and condition of the Institution for the year 

 1809, and the proceedings of the Board of Begents, it contains the fol- 

 lowing articles : Memoirs of Kepler, Thomas Young, Auguste Bravais, 

 C. T. P. Von Martius, and Stefano Marianini ; an original paper On the 

 chemistry of the earth, by T. Sterry Hunt ; articles on the electrical 

 currents of the earth ; phenomena "of flight in the animal kingdom ; the 

 northern seas ; report on the transactions of the Society of Physics and 

 Natural History of Geneva; an original article relative to Corouado's 

 march in search of the seven cities of Cibola, and a discussion of their 

 probable location ; social and religious condition of the lower races of 

 man; principles and methods of palaeontology; remarks on the Cara 

 Gigantesca of Yucatan; forests and their climatic influence.; meteor- 

 ites; remarkable forms of hail-stones in Georgia; eruption of the 

 volcano of Colima. It is proper to remark that the article on the flight 

 of birds was translated from the French by Mr. W. H. Ball, whose 

 name was accidentally omitted at the head of the article. 



For the purpose of forming a general map of the North American 

 Continent, exhibiting the plains, mountains, valleys, &c, the Smith- 

 sonian Institution has collected a large amount of material relative to 

 altitudes, which has been placed in the hands of W. L. Nicholson, esq., 

 topographer of the United States Post Office Department, to be dis- 

 cussed and elaborated. 



There must, however, still remain in the hands of individuals and 

 corporations records of an important character, which would be of 

 great value in properly carrying out the enterprise. The correspondents 

 of the Institution are requested to send to it printed copies or original 

 manuscripts of records, especially of plotted profiles or maps, pertaining 

 to this subject. 



In stating the heights, as furnished by surveys for railroads, whether 

 actually constructed or only projected, it is desirable that the levelings 

 be referred to some known point on connecting or intersecting roads, 

 or to the water-surface (high water, low water, or mean tide) of the ocean 

 or of one of the great lakes, or to the level of a noted stage of water 

 (high or low) of some river. The crossings of the water-courses, ridges, 

 and summits are particularly desired, as well as all considerable and 

 characteristic changes of level, giving, where much difference exists, 



