APPENDIX No. 6.

Extract from the report of W. C. Bond, esq., director of the Cambridge Observatory, to the superintendent of the coast survey, in relation to the difference of longitude between Cambridge and Liverpool Observatories. CAMBRIDGE, October 28, 1850.

DEAR SIR: I have delivered to assistant Sears C. Walker copies of all he observations, comparisons, and computations resulting from my opeations in ascertaining chronometrically the difference of longitude beween Greenwich Observatory and this station, during the years 1849 and 850.

I shall not occupy your time in recapitulating in this place the details f the work, as you have them at your command. It may be sufficient O say that the final mean result derived from one hundred and seventyve chronometers, after the application of certain probable errors and eights, is found to be 4h. 44m. 30.1s. This may safely be considered s not one second in error. But on the comparison of a considerable umber of outward and homeward passages, I find that eastern passages ive a greater difference of longitude than western, and this, too, uniormly to be the result of accidental errors of the chronometers.

For the purpose of investigating this discrepancy, I selected one hunred and nineteen cases, such as required no extraordinary weights to be pplied in the reduction, and obtained the following:

The personal equations of Mr. Hartnup and myself, we have satisfacorily proved, do not amount to one-tenth of a second. I am, therefore, extremely anxious to pursue, and have no doubt that the source of this difference may be ascertained. In order, however, to accomplish this object, we must admit none but the best chronometers on trial, and let hem be accompanied by some one who is familiar with their construction and tendencies.

With sincere respect and regard, I remain, dear sir, yours, truly,
W. C. BOND.
Professor A. D. BACHE.

APPENDIX No. 7.

Recommendation in relation to buoys of Lieutenant Commanding Charles H. Mc Blair, United States navy, assistant in the coast survey, in a report to the superintendent.

U. S. SURVEYING STEAMER BIBB,
Salem, October 23, 1850.

SIR: I would respectfully suggest that two buoys be placed on Billingsgate shoal-one on the southwestern extremity, and the other about half

the distance between that point and the island. They will serve as val able guides to vessels bound to the anchorage under the lee of the she

Though not lying within the field of work occupied by the party, it perhaps proper for me also to recommend that a buoy be placed on th extremity of a shoal or spit reaching from Fox's point, Nashawena isla This sand spit lies immediately at the southern extremity of Quicks Hole, one of the great highways leading into Buzzard's bay, throngsa which large numbers of vessels are constantly passing. It takes its nar from a vessel that was stranded upon it -a circumstance in itself sugges ive of the necessity of guarding others against a similar casualty.

I am, respectfully,

Professor A. D. BACHE,

C. H. McBLAIR,
Assistant Coast Survey.

Superintendent U. S. Coast Survey, Washington.

APPENDIX No. 8.

Extracts from the report of Professor A. G. Pendleton, United Sta navy, assistant in the coast survey, to the Superintendent, in regel to the encroachment of the sea on the land on the south side of Lor island.

WASHINGTON, D. C., August 2, 1850.

SIR: I was afterwards directed by Lieutenant Commandi: Woodhull to act in conjunction with Lieutenant Preble, as an observ on the vessels from the stations on shore; and, as 1 boarded with t farmers residing in the immediate vicinity of the beach, I had opportun ties of conversing with them about the changes to which the shore w liable, and had undergone during their own recollections and those their fathers.

Some of them informed me that the beach and sand hills encroache with the ocean upon the land, as was evidenced to them by the diminutio of their meadows and arable land, by their being covered with sand, an the discovery, at times, of the tracks of wagons in a peat formation on t ocean side of the sand hills, which could only be accounted for upon t supposition that they were the traces of old roads that were once in th meadows on the north side of the hills. In a place somewhere betwee Fire island and Ketchabonneck, I was told that a considerable number: cedars were left by the movement of the sands on the ocean side of t hills, after having been buried for some unknown length of tim These cedars must have grown in the meadows, being covered as finally uncovered again, by the continuation of the same canses, wh the meadows became exposed to the action of the surf. The surfaced the peat is broken up into small fragments, and may frequently be se on various parts of the shore, where it is left by the tide, after nearly all t earthy parts are dissolved out of it, leaving the tangled network of root &c., as the only remains of the meadows that can be found.

But, while the above seems to be the progress of the water upon the land during a long interval of time, there seem also to be smaller changes

effected in the beach, by the various winds and currents of a more temporary nature, but which frequently causes the water-line to advance or recede, as the case may be, a distance of from 200 to 300 feet in the course of two or three weeks of stormy weather.

From the above facts and suppositions I would expect, in the general, deeper water in the same places at present than formerly; but about the same depth at the same distance from the beach, as the sea acting on the sand would probably carve out for itself the same form of bed in all its course of encroachment on the land.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Professor BACHE,

A. G. PENDLETON, Professor Mathematics, U. S. N.

Superintendent U. S. Coast Survey.

APPENDIX No. 9.

Report of H. L. Whiting, esq., assistant United States coast survey, to the Superintendent, on the progress of Sandy Hook, from 1848 to 1850.

WASHINGTON, D. C., March 25, 1850.

DEAR SIR: I transmit here with a report of my survey of Sandy Hook, ogether with such information as I was able to obtain concerning the action and effect of tides, winds, and breakers, during heavy storms, &c., upon the beach and shoals.

Some are of opinion that the principal cause of the changes at Sandy Hook is from the wind. I think, however, it has very little influence as a first cause in effecting these changes. The sand seems first to be hrown up by the heavy seas, during storms, &c. After it becomes dry, t will always continue to be carried away by the winds, to nearly the evel of high water, or until the surface exposed is sufficiently damp to prevent its rising with the wind.

I believe the construction of wind hedges or fences, to break the force of the wind, on exposed places, has often been successful in preserving and and loose soil. Mr Lewis, of Lynn, has effectually preserved, in his manner, the long beach to Nahant, which has now become so high hat the sea never breaks over it.

At Sandy Hook, wherever there are obstructions to the wind, among he cedars, &c., sand hills are formed and the beach is preserved. If edges were set in other places and parts of the Hook, in reference to the prevailing winds, I believe that almost any action could be caused, ind the beach either formed or carried away, as was desired. The sea and tide, however, are by far the most powerful agents, and I think will lefy all artificial constructions. Any storm at sea causes the swell to roll n from the southeast, and the sea breaks upon the shore obliquely from hisdirection. The flood tide setting from south to north carries the sand, which is thrown up and mixed with the surf, from the plain where it may have been formerly deposited, and thus causes a constant shifting of the utside of the beach from as far south as the Ocean House to the point of he Hook. This same action of the sea, breaking obliquely upon the

shore, with a tide running nearly in the same direction, is observable the extremity of Cape Cod. The sea seems to wash away the beach: particular places, forming a cove in the shore, with a deposite of sand leeward, or below the cove; both of these formations will gradually wes in the direction of the tide until they disappear at the point of the ca This is very obvious at Sandy Hook; the Shrewsbury inlet usually breas through within half a mile of the Ocean House, and works to the nor ward until it reaches the wider part of the Hook, caused by the ceday &c., where it closes, as in the case of last winter. The ship North Ame ca (the wreck of which is now nearly due east from the Highland ligh went ashore, some eight or ten years ago, in the middle of the inlet, a then was; it is now at least a mile to the south of where the inlet closed. It is probable, in a few years, or in case of any heavy stor that a new inlet will break through the beach within a mile, or thereab of the Ocean House.

I am of opinion, however, that this could be prevented, if desired, the wind hedges to which I have alluded. The inlet is finally oper more by the ebb tide out of Shrewsbury river, after a storm has mada break through the beach, than by the action of the sea from the outside

There is also now forming, some 100 yards off the shore, a sho ridge of sand, extending for a mile and more, off the narrowest part ofte beach; this is nearly parallel with the shore, and in some places dra low water. From what I can learn from persons residing near the she who have observed the action and effect of storms, I think this shoal eventually be thrown higher and nearer the shore, until it becomes of the beach itself, in which case no inlet will be likely to break thre the beach for many years.

I remain, sir, very respectfully, yours,

Professor A. D. BACHE,

HENRY L. WHITING

Superintendent United States Coast Survey,

Washington, D. C.

A

APPENDIX No. 10.

Extracts from the report of Lieutenant Commanding Woodhull, US Navy, in relation to Prince's and Diamond reefs, New York harbe

WASHINGTON, January 18, 18%

SIR: On receipt of your instructions I proceeded to New York, we place I reached on the 5th, and commenced making my arrangement mediately. The collector of the port extended every facility to m his power, and the only obstacle I encountered in the speedy performace of the work was the incessant bad weather. Notwithstanding, I succee in the examination and soundings, agreeable to your orders.

I commenced with Prince's or Middle reef, (the name it is comin known by,) and sounded till I found the shoalest point, upon whi placed a spar buoy. I then placed small buoys on the four extremit it. By these means I was enabled to obtain a pretty fair knowledge d extent and form. I find, on running my lines and soundings with gr

Y

th

care, two summits, on one of which was 10 and on the other 9 feet of water at extreme low water. This reef is about 140 feet long, and averages about 50 feet in width, and projects above the surface of the river bottom some 12 or 15 feet, not including the two summits above mentioned, which jut up from the body of the reef some 5 or 6 feet. I measured the distance of the reef from the nearest pier, and found it to be 360 feet.

While surveying, the ship New London ran on the Diamond reef and received some damage. Although you did not direct its examination, I thought it proper, under the circumstances, to include it in my present work, and accordingly sounded every part of it and accurately determined its shoalest point, which I have marked by a spar buoy, which I recommended should be kept as I have placed it, until the rock is removed.

I addressed a letter to Mr. Maxwell on the subject, recommending his keeping the buoys as I had placed them, which suggestion he promised to comply with. This reef is situated about midway between the north. dock, Governor's island, and the South ferry, foot of Whitehall street. The current on the ebb tide sets directly on it, which has been the cause of many accidents. It is of irregular shape, about 50 feet long and 30 or 80 10 wide, and has an average projection above the river bottom of 8 to 13 eet. I sounded it out carefully; its shoalest part has at extreme low water about 16 feet upon it.

This, as also the Prince's reef, is immediately in the way of all vessels bound in or out of the East river, and should be removed.

Yours, respectfully,

MAXWELL WOODHULL, Lieut. Com'g U. S. Navy, Assist. U. S. Coast Survey. Prof. A. D. BACHE,

Superintendent U. S. Coast Survey.

Memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of New York to the Senate and Representatives of the United States.

The memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of New York respectfully epresents: That the natural advantages and favorable position of New York necessarily constitute this port the great mart of commerce as well is the common centre for the trade of the nation. The vast increase in his trade, and the constant increase in the number of vessels, both great ind small, that require the use of the waters of the harbor, would seem to present a strong claim to the favorable consideration of Congress for the equisite appropriation to remove those obstructions that interfere with the Convenience and security of that extended navigation in which all classes nd all interests are directly or indirectly concerned,

The outlet to the ocean by way of the East river and the passages of Hell Gate is probably required and used by as great a number of vessels of ll descriptions, though mostly at present of moderate size, as that of lmost any other in the world; yet do the dangers of that passage remain standing reproach to the enterprise and improvements of the age. A moderate expenditure would remove the difficulty by blowing up the rocks