RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, in Troy, N. Y., endowed Stephen Van Rensselaer as a school of theoretical and practical science; organized, 1824. It has long had high reputation in its special department. The studies of the course are designed to secure to all the graduates a professional preparation, at once thorough and practical, for the following specialties of engineering practice: the location, con struction, and superintendence of public works, as railways, canals, water-works, etc. ; the design, construction, and management of mills, iron-works, steel-works, chemical works, and pneumatic works; the design and construction of roofs, arch bridges, girder bridges, and suspension bridges; the design, construction, and use of wind motors, hydraulic motors, air-engines, and the various kinds of steam-engines; the design, construction, and use of machines in general, and the determination of their efficiency; the survey of rivers, lakes, and harbors, and the direction of their improvements; the determination of lati tude, longitude, time, and the meridian in geographical explorations, or for other pur poses, together with the projection of maps; the selection and test of materials used in construction; the construction of the various kinds of geometrical and topographical drawings. The site of the institute buildings on the eastern slope of the city combines the advantages of a commanding position and quiet surroundings with great conven ience of access. The observatory occupies an elevated site, and commands' a good
horizon. It consists of a central or main building, 30 ft. sq., and 3 wings; the total length being 76 ft., and the breadth 60 feet. It is surmounted dome, under which is the large pier designed for an equatorial telescope. The e. wing contains piers for the meridian circle and its collimators, and the transit instrument. The other wings are to contain the computing and clock rooms, and library. In the Winslow laboratory build ing* are the metallurgical laboratory and the chemical laboratory and lecture-room. The collection of minerals, shells, herbs, and woods, from all parts of the world, is very large; the metallurgical collection is rich; the chemical cabinet contains specimens illus trating all the principal manufactures involving chemical science. The library contains many valuable scientific works. It has recently been increased by a valuable collection of American and foreign scientific periodicals, and is accessible to all the members of the institute. It had (1878) 18 teachers and 166 students. Hon. James Forsyth, president.