Item 197 - Letter from Alexander Dallas Bache

Washington - WW's letter of May 5 has arrived: 'When I received your former note on the subject of the tides I wrote at once to correct your misapprehension in reference to tidal observations in connection with the U.S. Coast Survey. I infer from your present note that my letter was not received'. ADB has done all he can to ensure his observations are valuable since taking charge of the Coast Survey in 1844: 'If I have not done all that was desirable I have done all that was then possible, and I appeal distinctly from the verdict which you have presumed without knowledge of the facts of the case, as to the tidal observations being without value!'