Ixvi 



magnetic force with the appearance of the xlurora BoreaHs. He also, in 

 connexion with Mr. Espy, made a minute survey of the relative change of 

 position of the trees and other ohjects in the track of a tornado which 

 passed over New Brunswick. In connexion with Professor Courtenay he 

 also made a series of determinations of the magnetic dip at various places 

 in the United States. Indeed, tei-restrial magnetism was with him a 

 favourite subject, to which he continued to make valuable contributions at 

 intervals during his whole life. He was also much interested in the 

 phenomena of heat, and was the first to show, contrary to generally 

 received opinion, that the radiation and consequent absorption of dark 

 heat is not affected by colour. 



In 1836, when Professor Bache had just attained the thirtieth year of 

 his age, the Trustees of the Girard College, an institution munificently 

 endowed by a benevolent citizen of Philadelphia, preparatory to organizing 

 the College, resolved to select Professor Bache as the most proper man for 

 the office of President, and to send him abroad to study the systems of 

 education and methods of instruction and discipline adopted in Europe. 

 It was with difficulty that he could bring himself to regard with favour a 

 proposition which threatened to separate him from the pursuit of science. 

 The consideration of a more extended field of usefulness at length pre- 

 vailed, and he accepted the proffered position, though not without some 

 lingering regret. No American ever visited Europe under more favourable 

 circumstances for becoming intimately acquainted with its scientific and 

 literary institutions. His published researches had made him favourably 

 known to the cultivators of science, and gave him ready access to intelli- 

 gent and influential society. He remained in Europe two years, and on his 

 return embodied the results of his researches on Education in his Report 

 to the Trustees of Girard College. This Report is an almost exhaustive 

 exposition of the systems of education and methods of instruction in use at 

 the time in England, France, Prussia, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. 

 The accounts which are given of the different schools of Europe are 

 founded on personal inspection, the results being noted down at the time 

 with his habitual regard for accuracy. 



After completing his report he was prepared to commence the organiza- 

 tion of the College, but the Trustees, partly on account of the unfinished 

 condition of the building, and partly from a want of the final adjustment 

 of the funds, were not disposed to put the Institution into operation. In 

 the meantime. Professor Bache, desirous of rendering the information he 

 had acquired of immediate practical use offered his services gratuitously tp 

 the municipal authorities of Philadelphia to organize on an improved basis 

 a system of public education for that city. This offer was readily accepted ; 

 and he commenced the work with his usual energy, and with the cordial 

 support of the Directors and Teachers of the common schools. The result 

 of his labours was the establishment of the best system of combined free 

 education which had at that time been adopted in the United States. 



