154 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



in preparation, under the direction and partly at the expense of the 

 Institution. The first of these relates to a series of valuable observa- 

 tions on the temperature and velocity of the Gulf stream, the author of 

 which the science of our country was called to mourn while he was 

 engaged in an important public service. The observations are now in 

 progress of reduction, and tlw-results will furnish an interesting memoir 

 for the next volume of our Contributions. 



The drawings and engravings of a paper on the botany of Oregon 

 are also in progress ; and as a small advance has been made to assist 

 in completing these, the memoir will fall under the head of original re- 

 searches, in part conducted by the Institution. 



In the last report, it was mentioned that a magnetic survey of the 

 mineral regions of the northern lakes had been added to the geological 

 and mineralogical survey, the results of which were to be submitted to 

 the Smithsonian Institution. An appropriation was made by the Sec- 

 retary of the Treasury during the past summer for a continuation of 

 this survey ; but on account of the lateness of the season at which the 

 arrangement was made, the person to whom the work was entrusted 

 was not enabled to engage in it this year. Operations, however, will 

 probably be commenced as soon as practicable next spring. 



There is in the Land Office a large collection of facts relative to the 

 variation of the compass, which have been derived from the observa- 

 tions of the public surveyors, who are directed in all cases to note the 

 variation of the needle from the true meridian, at the several stations 

 of their surveys. The observations are made with an instrument called 

 the solar compass, which probably gives the variation at each place 

 within a quarter of a degree of the truth. The number of these obser- 

 vations, it is believed, will make up in a considerable degree for their 

 want of greater precision ; and from the whole, the lines of declination 

 may be determined with considerable accuracy. The Secretary of 

 the Treasury has liberally directed that all the matter relating to this 

 subject in the Land Office may be placed at my disposal, and Mr. Wilson 

 has undertaken to present the whole in a series of maps, the publica- 

 tion of which in the Contributions cannot fail to be received as an 

 interesting addition to terrestrial magnetism. 



Among the objects of research enumerated in the programme, is the 

 analysis of soils and plants ; but it is the policy of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, in order to employ its funds most effectually in the way of 

 increasing and diffusing knowledge, not to engage in any operation 

 which could be as well if not better carried on under the direction and 

 with the funds of another institution. In accordance with this, an 

 arrangement has been made with the Commissioner of Patents that the 

 two Institutions may not interfere with each other ; and as, at the re- 

 quest of Mr. Burke, an appropriation has been made by Congress for a 

 series of experiments on the above mentioned subjects, the Smithsonian 

 Institution will, therefore, for the present abandon this field of research 

 for others less effectually occupied. 



I may also mention in this connexion, that the Smithsonian Institution 

 has been the means of starting an important literary enterprise, intended 

 to facilitate the study of the history and literature of our country. Mr. 

 Henry Stevens, who has been engaged for a number of years as the 



