GENERAL MEETINGS. 
23 
of probably $8,000 or $10,000 this work can be printed and dis¬ 
tributed to the world as a monument and evidence of the growing 
scientific tendency of this nation. If such action is taken by Con¬ 
gress, the Chief Signal Officer has no doubt, from the willing spirit 
and hearty co-operation shown by leading scientists of other coun¬ 
tries, that future international co-operation will secure, by a system 
of rotation, from the various European governments the publication 
of a series of supplements which will keep the world abreast of the 
steadily increasing volume of meteorological publications. A large 
number of American and foreign meteorologists and librarians have 
given largely of their time and energy in the compilation of this 
bibliography, as is shown by the fact that over one-half of the mate¬ 
rial has been contributed from foreign countries, so that the bibli¬ 
ography represents not only a large expenditure on the part of the 
United States, but also many years of. additional gratuitous labor. 
The material could not be duplicated, and it would seem but a re¬ 
spectable reciprocity of exchange that the Government should print 
the catalogue, so as to enable the voluntary contributors to avail 
themselves of the complete work. This fulfilment of obligations to 
contributors by a public catalogue is an act of justice ; but, in addi¬ 
tion, it should bd considered that this bibliography will be of great 
practical value to the agricultural, commercial, engineering, and 
medical interests not only of the United States, but of the world. 
Mr. Abbe stated that he had asked Mr. Sawyer to present to the 
Philosophical society some account of his work, now nearing com¬ 
pletion, but, as he could not be present, Mr. Abbe read the following 
memorandum prepared by Mr. Sawyer: 
MEMORANDUM ON THE SIGNAL SERVICE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF 
\ 
METEOROLOGY AND TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM. 
The bibliographical work of the Signal office dates from 1881, 
and officially originated in correspondence begun by Prof. Abbe 
with Prof. G. J. Symons, of London, Dr. G. Hellmann, of Berlin, 
and Dr. A. Lancaster, of Brussels, who all manifested the greatest 
interest in the proposed catalogue and have been the most impor¬ 
tant contributors to it. 
The meteorological titles in the Catalogue of scientific papers. 
Compiled by the Royal society of London, vols. i-vi {i8oo-i86j), had 
already been selected and extracted by Prof. Abbe and were trans¬ 
ferred to the Signal office in December, 1881, on the repayment of 
the expenses incurred by him in the work. At the request of the 
Signal office. Prof. Symons undertook to furnish copies of all titles 
on meteorology and terrestrial magnetism contained in his extensive 
