SO ETGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



observations which, though not made with great precision, will still be 

 of value in delineating the general direction of the magnetic lines in 

 different parts of the United States. Steps have been taken to collect 

 all the existing materials relative to this subject, with the view of sub- 

 mitting them in due time to reduction and careful investigation. 



Correspondence. — There is one part of the Smithsonian operations that 

 attracts no public attention, though it is producing, it is believed, im- 

 portant results in the way of diffusing knowledge, and is attended, per- 

 haps, with more labor than any other part. I allude to the scientific 

 correspondence of the Institution. Scarcely a day passes in which 

 communications are not received from persons in different parts of the 

 country, containing accounts of discoveries, which are referred to the 

 Institution, or asking questions relative to some branch of knowledge. 

 The rule was early adopted to give respectful attention to every letter 

 received, and this has been faithfully adhered to from the beginning up 

 to the present time. 



These communications relate to a great variety of subjects. Any 

 topic which strongly excites the attention of the public at a given time, 

 such as the announcement in the papers of a wonderful discovery, or 

 an important invention which promises to introduce extensive changes 

 in the useful arts, is sure to bring upon the Institution an increase of 

 labor in the way of correspondence. The ordinary inquiries addressed 

 to the Secretary relate to the principles of mechanics, electricity, mag- 

 netism, meteorology, names of specimens of plants, minerals, insects, 

 and, in short, to all objects or phenomena of a remarkable or unusual 

 character. 



Requests are frequently made for lists of apparatus, for information 

 as to the best books for the study of special subjects, hints for the 

 organization of local societies, &c. Applications are also made for in- 

 formation by persons abroad relative to particular subjects respecting 

 this country. When an immediate reply cannot be given to a question, 

 the subject is referred, by letter, to some one of the Smithsonian co- 

 laborers, to whose line of duty it pertains, and the answer is transmit- 

 ted to the inquirer, either under the name of the person who gives the 

 information or under that of the Institution, according to the circum- 

 stances of the case. 



There is no country on the face of the earth in which knowledge is 

 so generally diffused as in the United States ; none in which there is 

 more activity of mind or freedom of thought and discussion, and in 

 which there is less regard to what should be considered as settled and 

 w ell-established principles. It will not, therefore, be surprising that the 

 Institution shoulcl be called upon to answer a great number of commu- 

 nications intended to subvert the present system of science, and to estab- 

 lish new and visionary conceptions in its stead, and that numerous 

 letters should be received pertaining to such subjects as the quadrature 

 of the circle, the trisection of the angle, the invention of self-moving 

 machines, the creation of power, the overthrow of the Newtonian sys- 

 tem of gravitation, and the invention of new systems of the universe. 



Many of these communications are of such a character that, at first 

 sight, it might seem best to treat them with silent neglect ; but the rule 



