i8 
SCIENCE. 
SCIENCE: 
A Weekly Record of Scientific 
Progress. 
JOHN MICHELS, Editor. 
Published at 
L‘29 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 
P. O. Box 3838. 
SATURDAY, JULY io, 1880. 
To Correspondents. 
All communications should be addressed to the Editor — Box 3838, P. 
O.. New York — with name and address of writer, not necessarily for pub- 
lication without consent. 
Scientific papers and correspondence intended for publication, should be 
written legibly on one side only of the paper. Articles thus received will 
be returned when found unsuitable for the Journal. 
Those engaged in Scientific Research are invited to make this Journal 
the medium of recording their work, and facilities will be extended to 
those desirous of publishing original communications possessing merit. 
Proceedings of Scientific Societies will be recorded, but the abstracts 
furnished must be signed by the Secretaries. 
Both Questions and answers in “ Notes and Queries ” should be made 
as brief as possible ; an answer appearing to demand an elaborate reply, 
mav be written in the form of an article. 
To Subscribers. 
A crms Of subscription for Science will be $4 a year, payable in advance. 
Six months, $2.50. Single copies 10 cents. 
bubscriptions forwarded by mail should be addressed to the Editor, 
Box 3838, P. O., New York, and Post-office orders made payable to 
“ John Miche's.” 
To Advertisers. 
Terms tor advertising may be obtained at the office of Journal, 229 
Broadway. 
THE EDISON LIGHT. 
A gas lighting and sanitary journal published in 
London asserts that Mr. Edison has thrown up his 
electric light researches, and left for California, and 
suggests that there is now a fair field to those disposed 
to try their hand in this direction. 
Possible the “ wish ” was father to the l: thought" 
with the promoters of this journal, when they printed 
this atrocious statement, which is not only false but 
malicious. 
In this country a contradiction of such a “ canard" 
is, of course, unnecessary. Mr. Edison has ceased 
to notice attacks of this nature, and possibly in his re- 
tirement at Menlo Park, and with every moment occu- 
pied on his important work, he may not even know of 
them. Warned by experience of the misinterpretation 
placed upon his willingness to permit the public to 
witness the gradual progress he was making with his 
carbon-electric lamp, he has of late discouraged the 
continued reporting of his movements, but within 
a very few weeks a whole section of Menlo 
Park will be illuminated by means of his carbon- 
electric lights, equal in extent to one of those districts 
which will be afterwards established in New York City 
if success is achieved. 
When the arrangements are completed the question 
of the success or non-success of Mr. Edison’s system 
of electric lighting will be removed from the arena of 
experimental demonstrations. Here will be an exhibi- 
tion on a full-sized scale, which must be decisive, as 
accurate calculations can be made, and every point 
determined down to the smallest detail. 
This will be Edison’s answer to all the meretricious 
arguments and scientific hair-splitting which has been 
of late, with little generosity, carefully disseminated to 
his disadvantage. Taking the view that it is a waste of 
time to argue theoretically, on that which can be de- 
monstrated practically, Edison, through all this wran- 
gle has been silent, but not idle ; while others talked , 
he has ? x’orked, and in a few short weeks all will be 
ready, when those who are competent can see and 
judge for themselves. 
In the mean time, during this short interval, let 
slander be silent. The public is becoming nauseated 
with the wearying cry of “ non possumus,” and the real 
men of science in this country, appreciating the true 
scientific course Edison has followed to solve the ques- 
tion, are prepared to give his results a crucial but fair 
investigation. 
Professor Spencer F. Baird, of the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution, Washington, is desirous of obtaining information 
respecting Mr. James Smithson, the founder of the Insti- 
tution, for the purpose of assisting the writing of a 
memoir now in preparation. James Smithson, F. R. S„ 
was the son of Hugh, first Duke of Northumberland, 
and Elizabeth, heiress of the Hungerfords of Audley, and 
neice of Charles, Duke of Somerset. In 1826 he resided 
at Bentinck street, Cavendish square, London. He died 
in 1826. The following are some of the points on which 
information is desired : John Fitall, a trusted servant of 
Mr. James Smithson, died June 14th, 1834, at Bush House, 
Wanstead, Essex, England. Have his heirs any relics 
or mementos of Mr. Smithson, any notes, letters, etc. ? 
The executor of Mr, Smithson was Mr. Drummond, the 
London banker; can any original letters or documents be 
procured in this direction ? Information relative to Henry 
Louis Dickinson (half brother of James Smithson) Col- 
onel of the 84th Regiment of Foot. Information relative 
to the college life of Mr. Smithson. He was a graduate 
of Pembroke College, Oxford University, May 26, 1786. 
Letters from Sir Humphrey Davy, Sir Davies Gilbert, 
Hon. Henry Cavendish, Dr. W. H. Wollaston, Mr. 
Smithson Tennant, Dr. Joseph Black, Dr. Hutton, M. 
Arago, M. Gay Lussac, M. Cordier, M. Haiiy, M. Klap- 
roth, M. A. C. Becquerel, M. Fanjas de St. Fond, Mr. 
Thornton, Mr. Maclaire, Mr. William Thomson. Any 
original letter of Mr. Smithson, or authenticated facts 
relating to him will be gladly received, and should be ad- 
dressed to Professor Spencer F. Baird, Smithsonian In- 
stitute, Washington. 
The Emperor of Germany has appointed Professor 
Baron von Nordenskjold a foreign Knight of the Order 
pour le Merite for Arts and Sciences. 
