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Botany.-Sexual reproduction in the Lower Cryptogamia, 276.-Trécul; Formations Secondaires dans les Cellules Végétales: Mohl on Chlorophyll, 278.-The seeds of Magnolia Bertoloni; Miscellanea Botanica, 279.-Prof. Braun; on the oblique direction of the ligneous fibre, etc., 280.-The Wellingtonia of Lindley, 281.-Does Seawater kill Seeds? 282.-Ravenal; Fungi Caroliniani Exsiccati, 284.

Astronomy.-Comet, 1855, II: Report on the Shooting Stars of August 9th and 10th, 1855, by EDWARD C. HERRICK, 235.

Miscellanies.-The Smithsonian Institution, 287.--Introduction of Bombyx Cynthia into Europe, 288.-American Association for the Advancement of Science, 289.-The Climate of San Francisco, for the year 1854, by H. GIBBONS, M.D., 292.-Iron ore of Dodge and Washington Cos., Wisconsin, 295 --Clouds: Pottsville Scientific Association, 296.--Obituary.--Notice of the late John Graem Ellery, 296.--Mr. Thomas Weaver: Andrew Crosse, 297.--Report of Exploration of a Route for the Pacific Railroad, by 1. I. STEVENS, 297.--Reports of Explorations of various routes for the Pacific Railroad, etc., 299, 300.--An Introduction to Practical Astronomy, by Prof. ELIAS LOOMIS, LL.D., 300.-The Relations of Chemistry to Agriculture, and the Agricultural Experiments of Mr. J. B. Lawes, by JUSTUS VON LIEBIG, translated by SAMUEL W. JOHNSON: A Treatise on Pneumatics, by MARTIN H. BOYE, M.D., A.M.: Fossil Footmarks in the Red Sandssone of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, by ISAAC LEA, LL.D: Fossils of South Carolina, by M. TuOMEY and F S. HOLMES, 301.--The Natural History of Man, by JAMES COWLES PRICHARD, M.D., etc.: QUEKETT on the use of the Microscope : Human Longevity and the amount of life upon the Globe, by P. FLOURENS: Annals of the Astronomical Observatory at Harvard College, 302.--Notices of new publications, 303.

List of Works, 303.

NUMBER LX.

Page.

ART. XXVII. On the Eagre of the Tsien-Tang; by D. J. MAC-
GOWAN, M.D.,

305

XXVIII. Observations on Binocular Vision; by Professor WIL-
LIAM B. ROGERS,

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318

XXIX. Remarks on the Rev. Henry Moseley's Paper, "On the
Descent of Glaciers;" by Prof. JOHN LECONTE, M.D.,
XXX. On the Crystallization of Platinum from Fusion; by J. W.
MALLET, Ph.D.,

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335

340

XXXI. On an Index of Papers on subjects of Mathematical and
Physical Science; by Lieut. E. B. HUNT,

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341

XXXII. On the Geographical Distribution of Crustacea; by
JAMES D. DANA,

349

XXXIII. Notice of the Geological position and character of the
Copper Mine at Bristol, Connecticut; by Professors B. SIL-
LIMAN, Jr., and J. D. WHITNEY,

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361

XXXIV. On our Sense of the Vertical and Horizontal, and on

our Perception of Distance; by Lieut. E. B. HUNT,

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368

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CORRECTION.-P. 161, to title add, by Prof. O. N. STODDARD.

ERRATA.-P. 178, 19th 1. from top, for 1838, read 1853.-P. 274, for "Nieder, Pobel,"
read "Nieder-Pobel."

THE

AMERICAN

JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS.

[SECOND SERIES.]

ART. I.-The Smithsonian Institution.

We have been silent but not uninterested spectators of the controversy which has been so rife for a year past respecting the Smithsonian Institution. Now, however, when the discussion appears to have drawn to a close, or at least when the arguments on both sides are well nigh exhausted, it seems proper, in view of the relations which this Journal sustains to science and to the public, that we should take this important subject into dispassionate consideration, and place our conclusions upon record.

The official documents with which we have to do, are:

1. The will of the founder, James Smithson.

2. The Act of Congress entitled "An Act to establish the Smithsonian Institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men," passed in August, 1846.

3. The eight annual Reports of the Board of Regents of the Institution, made to Congress, from 1847 to 1854.

All these are included in the Eighth Annual Report of the Board, showing the operations, expenditures, and conditions of the Institution up to Jan. 1, 1854, and the proceedings of the Board up to July 8th, 1854.

And further, as to the points in controversy:

4. Report of the special committee of the Board of Regents, Hon. Mr. Pearce, Chairman, relative to the distribution of the income of the Smithsonian fund, made May 20, 1854, published in the Proceedings of the Board, forming a part of the eighth annual Report, above mentioned. SECOND SERIES, Vol. XX, No. 58.-July, 1855.

1

5. The Hon. Mr. Meacham's minority Report from the above committee, made subsequent to the adjournment of the Board of Regents and the presentation of their annual Report to Congress, but appended to the House of Representatives' edition of said Eighth Annual Report.

6. The Proceedings of the Board of Regents at the annual meeting in January, 1855;—an abstract from the records, published in the National Intelligencer of Jan. 17th, 1855.

7. A letter of the Hon. Rufus Choate to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, resigning his of fice of Regent of the Smithsonian Institution; and the Proceedings in the Senate consequent thereon. (Congressional Globe, &c.)

8. Report of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate, to whom was referred the inquiry whether any, and if any, what, action of the Senate is necessary and proper in regard to the Smithsonian Institution; made Feb. 6, 1855.

9. Speech of the Hon. W. H. English in the House of Representatives, Feb. 27, 1855, on the Smithsonian Institution.

10. Report of Hon. Mr. Upham, Chairman of the Select Committee of the House of Representatives, to which was referred the letter of the Hon. Rufus Choate resigning his place as a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution, with instructions to enquire and report to the House whether the Smithsonian Institution has been managed and its funds expended in accordance with the law establishing the Institution, &c. &c. (Printed in the Boston Daily Advertiser, March 10; the official publication not yet issued.)

11. Hon. Messrs. Witte and Taylor's Report from the same committee. (Printed in the Boston Daily Atlas, March 16th.)

These documents all are, or readily may be, accessible' to our readers in this country; and we are obliged to presuppose on their part a full acquaintance with them. However desirable a complete analysis of them might be, and however needful for the information of our foreign readers interested in a question of more than American concernment, our narrow limits forbid this, -forbid even that comprehensive historical view of the character and operations of the Institution which we would gladly give, and require us, after thus indicating the official documents which comprise the whole case, to enter at once upon the consideration of the essential points of this unhappy contest.

This controversy has grown out of certain widely divergent views which are entertained respecting the design and functions of the Institution. One party, that opposed to the policy actually adopted, contends that the Institution is by law, and should be made in fact, a library;—that from its income, now of about $31,000, an average amount of $25,000 should be annually expended for books. Other specified objects may subordinately or contingently come within the scope of the Institution; but the library, with its "legal possession of twenty-five thousand dollars a year" is "the paramount interest of the Institution," or would be, "had the Institution been made, as Congress intended, almost

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