THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 
291 
1843.] 
From C. S. Todd, American Minister, St. Petersburg, January 11, 
1843: Transmitting a communication from the Institut Pedagogique 
Central of St. Petersburg. 
From T. W. Fox, U. S. Consul, Plymouth, England, January 11, 
1843 : Will send specimen of the rock of which the great breakwater 
of Plymouth sound is built, completely riddled by boring shells, 
&c. 
From the same, January 13, 1843: Sending duplicate of former 
letter, and stating that he has shipped by packet Francis 1st, care of 
the Captain, New York, the box mentioned in it. 
From Theodore S. Fay, Secretary of Legation, Berlin, January 
23, 1843: Enclosing letter from M. Offers, of the Royal Museum, 
who has presented him with a second set of catalogues of the Mu¬ 
seum, to supply the place of those which miscarried, &c. 
From Henry Wheaton, American Minister, Berlin, January 25, 
1S43 : Description of the canal which unites the river Mayn with 
the Danube, (with a plan.) Works of art in the Bavarian capital,. 
(Munich.) Description of the Walhalla. 
From John H. Blake, Boston, January 31, 1843: Acknowledging 
membership, &c., sending specimens of a new mineral discovered by 
him in the District of Tarapaca, Peru, named Pickeringite; also, a 
suite of specimens of native nitrate of soda, from the same place, 
and asking how presents and communications may be sent to the In¬ 
stitute. 
From George S. Curson, Washington, January 31, 1843: Pre¬ 
senting a piece of antique sculpture, from Mexico. 
From H. Wheaton, American Minister, Berlin, February 1,1843: 
Character of Frederick the Great. 
From A. Baker, U. S. Charge d’Affaires, Turin, December 7, 
1842: Stating that he has several valuable works for the Institute, 
and asking how he is to send them on. 
From W. B. Hodgson, U. S. Consul, Tunis, Malta, May 12, 
1842: Sending specimens of insects preserved for one hundred 
years between plates of mica, prepared by one of the knights of 
Malta, at the period when the public library of the order was found¬ 
ed, and an attempt made to establish a cabinet of natural history. 
From General James Semple, late Charge d’Affaires of the U. S. 
at Bogota, to Hon. John Reynolds, Member of Congress, Spring- 
field, Illinois, February 10,1843: Inquiring about the box of curiosi¬ 
ties sent by him to the Institute, &c. 
From H. A. S. Dearborn, Boston, February 10, 1843: Express¬ 
ing gratification at the publication of his paper on the subject of an 
experimental farm and gardens, recommended to be established by 
Government at Washington. 
From Hon. James Matthews, House of Representatives, February 
12, 1843 : Enclosing a letter from Dr. W. M. Awl, Superintendent of 
the Lunatic Asylum at Columbus, Ohio, acknowledging the medical 
