
          Recd. & And
April [?]]

Smithsonian Institution
March 30 1850

Dr John Torrey

Dear Sir

Mr James Frost of Brooklyn, N. York, has petitioned
the Smithsonian Institution for aid in developing a series of discoveries
which he claims to have made in reference to the subject of Steam.
An account of his discoveries is given in the pamphlet accompanying
this letter and I beg leave in behalf of this Institution to request that you
will examine the same and report whether in your opinion the claim
is well founded, and whether a small appropriation to Mr Frost for the
farther development of his views would be advisable, it being understood
that our funds are very small and that we cannot make appropriations
without great probility of success.

The consideration of this subject has likewise been referred to Dr. Robert
Hare and Prof. B. Silliman [Senr?].

I remain very respectfully
Your obedient Servant
Joseph Henry
Secretary
        