they might be useful, in carrying out the objects of the Institution; And, from the Corresponding Secretary, notifying Corresponding Members of their election, and soliciting their co-op eration. The Department of Geology and Mineralogy was requested to make a Geological and Mineralogical survey of the District of Columbia; to cause a Geological Map to be executed, and a suite of Specimens to be prepared for the Institution. The Department of Natural History was requested to prepare catalogues of the Animals and Vegetables of the District of Columbia, and to collect specimens. Stated Meeting, September 14, 1840. Present, twenty-three members. Hon. JOEL R. POINSETT in the Chair. The following donations were received: A specimen of Fucoides Alleghaniensis,' from the Gap in Wills' Mountain, near Cumberland, Maryland.-From J. H. Causten, jr. Iron and Copper ores from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts.From Hon. Gouverneur Kemble. Selenite, Marl, Fossils, &c. from St. Mary's river; Argillaceous oxide of Iron, from Piney Point, Maryland; and a Bottle, incrusted with Balani, from the bed of the Potomac, 70 miles below Washington.-From Pishey Thompson. Two publications on the Daguerreotype, by J. Monticello, of Naples. From the Author. Geological Survey of Virginia, 1839. By Professor W. B. Rogers. From the Author. MS. Collection of one hundred papers and documents, consisting of a series of Proclamations, Correspondence, Addresses, Garrison and Police orders, &c., illustrating the History of South Carolina, from the capitulation of Charleston, May 12, 1780, to the resumption of the State Government, and meeting of the Assembly at Jacksonborough, January 18, 1782. Compiled by Peter Force.-From the Compiler. Donation of $50.-From Dr. Wm. Rush, of Philadelphia. Special Circulars were read, which had been addressed to the Governors of States, and to the Diplomatic and Consular Representatives of the United States, in Foreign Countries, announcing that they had been made Corresponding members, and inviting their aid in the promotion of the objects of the Institution. Stated Meeting, October 12, 1840. Present, twenty-nine members. Hon. JOEL R. POINSETT in the Chair. The following donations were received: Mineralogical and Geological specimens.-From Dr. F. Hall, Lieut. M. C. Meigs, Dr. McWilliams, Mr. H. C. Williams, and Colonel Talcott. Specimens of the Turbo littoreus, West River, Maryland.— From F. Markoe, jr. Recent Shells, found within a circuit of five miles around the city of Baltimore, from the Cabinet of Dr. Foreman.-From Dr. E. Foreman, Professor of Chemistry, Washington College, Baltimore. Map of Saxony.-From Hon. J. R. Poinsett. Memoranda of Observations, made to determine the Latitude of Alexandria, D. C., and the difference of Longitude between it, and the Observatory on Capitol Hill, Washington.— From the Author, Lieut. J. M. Gilliss, U. S. Navy. A communication was directed to be made by the First Director to the Geographical Societies of London and Paris, informing them of the establishment of the National Institution, and soliciting their correspondence. The Departments of the Institution were requested to collect, without delay, "all Reports made by Committees of Congress, and by Executive officers of the Government, illustrating the Geography, History, Geology, Manufactures, Commerce, &c., of the United States." Stated Meeting, November 9, 1840.. Present, thirty-nine members. Hon. JOEL R. POINSETT in the Chair. The following donations were received: Tooth of a Mastodon, found in Arkansas.-From Col. J. H. Hook, U. S. A. Specimen of "Bird's eye Marble," or Encrinital Limestone, from Iowa city.-From Mr. Newhall. Map of the Empire of Russia.-From Hon. J. R. Poinsett. Fossil Specimen, from the Tunnel of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, at the Paw-paw Bend, in Alleghany county, Maryland.-From Robert Barnard. Collection of Pamphlets, relating to the Revolution in 1776.From Robert Barnard. Specimens of the Printing used in teaching Reading and Music to the Blind. From J. H. Causten, jr. Geological and Agricultural Survey of Rhode Island, by Dr. C. T. Jackson.-From the Author. Volume of Ancient Maps.-From Colonel James Kearney, U. S. A. History of Embalming, by J. N. Gannal, translated by R. Harlan, M. D., Philadelphia.-From the Translator. Recent Shells.-From Isaac Lea, Philadelphia. Paper on "the Oolitic formation of America," read before the American Philosophical Society May 15, 1840, by Isaac Lea. From the Author. Synopsis of the Family of the Naiades, by Isaac Lea.From the Author. Contributions to Geology, by Isaac Lea. From the Author. Pamphlets on Scientific subjects, by Walter R. Johnson, Philadelphia. From the Author. Discourses on Scientific subjects, by R. Dunglison, M. D., One of the Secretaries of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. From the Author. Act of Incorporation, By-Laws, and Catalogue of the Library of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.—From the Academy. Work on the Fossil Shells of the Tertiary Formations of North America, illustrated by figures drawn on stone from Nature. By T. A. Conrad. Vol. I.-From the Author. Copper, Zinc, and Lead ores, Barytes, &c., from the Perkiomen Mincs, near Philadelphia; and Chromate of Iron from the Island of Cuba.- From Richard C. Taylor, Philadelphia. Jeffersonite, in large crystals. Garnet, a very large crystal. Automalite, from Franklin, New Jersey.-From Isaiah Lukens, Philadelphia. Collection of Geological specimens, Minerals, Ores, Fossils, Indian relics, &c. with a descriptive catalogue.-From Francis Markoe, jr. Fauna Columbiana, by T. B. J. Frye, M. D. in MS.-From the author. 48 Specimens of American wood.-From John Lenthall, Naval Constructor, Philadelphia. A letter was read from Alexander Maclure of New Harmony, Indiana, offering a suite of Geological specimens, Minerals, &c. from the Cabinet of his deceased brother, William Maclure, late President of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; also, the following letter from the venerable Mr. Du Ponceau, President of the American Philosophical Society, and an honorary member of the National Institution. TO FRANCIS MARKOE, jr. PHILADELPHIA, November, 1840. Corresponding Secretary of the National Institution. MY DEAR SIR: I have read with great attention and pleasure the constitution and by-laws of the National Institution, which you have had the goodness to com municate to me. I assure you that I feel the liveliest interest in the success of this noble institution. I am happy to see it established in the city of Washington, the capital of our Union, and many reasons induce me to feel this satisfaction. The District of Columbia is deprived of the most important rights enjoyed by the States. Its inhabitants are in fact disfranchised, and do not enjoy the right of self-government; a compensation is due to them for this great sacrifice, and there cannot be a nobler one than the laurel crown of science, which I think our National Government is bound to give to them, for their and its own glory. When our Government shows a sincere disposition to promote science and general knowledge, without which no free nation can long exist, it will produce many excellent effects; it will promote confidence in the National Administration; and, above all, it will soften the rage of party spirit, which threatens to involve us in the fate of the Roman Republic. The details of your organization are of little consequence, as they may be altered by the institution at pleasure. Yet there are some principles by which I think they ought to be regulated, and which I shall take the liberty to explain to you Every institution of this kind ought, in my opinion, to be constituted with a view to its efficiency and its perpetuity. These should not be lost sight of in any, even the most trifling, of its regulations. Efficiency is the first, because from its continued action perpetuity will arise and follow as a natural consequence. Experience will show you whether your constitution is or is not deficient in regard to this most important principle. The choice that you have made of your directors is a most excellent one, and I have no doubt will be attended with the happiest consequences. You have chosen two men high in office, whose means of assistance are considerable, and whose patronage will be important to you. I do not speak of their personal qualifications; they are well known to the world. One of them is already highly distinguished as a patron of science; of this I can speak of my own knowledge, as the American Philosophical Society, amongst others, is greatly indebted to him, and has placed him in the list of its benefactors. You have therefore done wisely in obtaining from the heads of the Government that they should appear as the head of your Institution. It is to be regretted that the Chief Magistrate of this great nation does not occupy that position in regard to this institution which the world will naturally expect from him, and which might enable him to be so eminently beneficial to his country. I however cannot but highly approve of your choice of directors; but you must be sensible that men who, like them, have on their shoulders, in a great measure, the destinies of their country, cannot give much attention to the official duties which you have imposed upon them. It is from a higher sphere that they must govern your institution. I would, therefore, recommend that you should elect two or three vice directors, to save them the labor which a regular attendance on your meetings would require of them. That attendance should be free and voluntary, and I have no doubt that, left to themselves, they would make every exertion, particularly in the inception of your labors, to direct and promote them. They will have to keep up a correspondence with other learned societies at home |