secured the applause of the world for his achievements in that part of the field already traversed is anxious to enter this, and stake his reputation on reaping another rich harvest of honour for his country that it is necessary to place our farmers and planters on an equal footing with those of Europe and Asia in the markets of the world—that the agricultural and planting interests of this country surpass all other interests—that heretofore the federal legislature has addressed itself to the advancement of these great interests so rarely and with such sparing hand; when we compare the means with the end—the magnitude of the results confidently expected with the amount of money required; and when we recollect how much of the legislation of the country and of the public money is applied to other interests so small in comparison, and that other nations, through the influence of their scientific men, are volunteering their cooperation so as to extend this system to the whole earth, your Committee are unable to discover any sufficient reason for withholding the sanction of the Government of the United States. They therefore recommend that the prayer of your memorialists may be granted, and ask leave to introduce a Bill."
In the following letter from M. F. Maury to E. P. Dorr, President of the Lake Board of Underwriters, the subject of meteorological observations for the great lakes is discussed:—
| Dear Sir, | Observatory, Washington, December 28th, 1858 |
Your letter of the 25th in relation to the system of meteorological observations for the lakes, was received this morning. You make reference to the system of army meteorological observations, and seem to think that covers the whole ground, and renders useless any further action by the lake people. Allow me to correct this mistake on your part.
