CONTENTS 
OF COMMUNICATIONS PUBLISHED IN THE FIRST AND SECOND BUL 
LETINS OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION 
FOR THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE. 
Peter S. Du Ponceau, President of the American Philosophical Society, Phila¬ 
delphia ; November, 1840 : Respecting the Institution in general, its organi¬ 
zation, plan of the bulletin, &c...... Page 11 
Isaac Weld, Honorary Secretary of the Royal Dublin Society; Dublin, Octo¬ 
ber 30, 1840: Account of the establishment of the R. D. Society. 14 
M. F. Maury, Lieutenant U. S. N.; Fredericksburg, Va., December 5, 1840: 
On the importance of exploring the bottom of the sea by dragging, trol¬ 
ling, &c... ....................... 17 
Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, Secretary of War and First Director of the Institution : 
Extracts from his Discourse before the Institution, pronounced January 4, 
1841.............. 19 
George W. Hughes, Captain of Topographical Engineers, U. S. A.; London, 
November 26, 1840 : Account of proceedings of the British Association for 
the advancement of Science, at the meeting of which, held in Glasgow in 
October, 1840, he was present; as also of his trip, in company with the 
members of the Association, to the Isle of Arran, the geology of which is 
described. Sketch of the British Association; its objects, &c. 33 
Virgil Maxcy, Charge d’Affaires of the United States at Brussels; Brussels, 
December 29, 1840 : Accompanying a valuable geological map of England 
and Wales ; assurances of his aid, &c.... 46 
W. D. Porter, Lieutenant LL S. N.; January 17, 1840: Showing how the 
Army and Navy may be rendered beneficial to the National Institution. 48 
Captain G. W. Hughes; Brussels, January, 1841: Geological and mining 
observations made during a tour in England and Wales.. 49 
Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, President of National Institution : Address on his elec¬ 
tion as President of the Institution, March 8, 1841... 69 
Hon. John Bell, Secretary of War: On the deposit of the portraits of distin¬ 
guished Indians in the rooms of the Institution. 85 
George Read, U. S. Consul at Malaga; March 28, 1841: Respecting the Mo- 
tril cotton cultivated in Granada, in Spain....... 86 
H. G. Bronn, Professor in the University of Heidelberg; Heidelberg, April 30, 
1841: The Zoological Museum of Heidelberg offers to exchange specimens 
with other societies, on certain bases there set forth. 88 
3No. 2. 19 
