ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY 31 
various sections could be elected honorary members of others. 
Thus, a member of the section of chemistry was elected to the 
section of botany, a member of the section of mathematics to 
the section of astronomy, etc. 
The year 1866 found the Academy without presiding officers. 
The first President, Professor Bache, continued in ill-health 
and was unable to attend the meetings, and the Vice-President, 
J. D. Dana, as already mentioned, resigned in August, 186s, 
from the same cause. —The Academy being thus without presid- 
ing officers, proceeded on January 25, 1866, to elect Joseph 
Henry as Vice-President. ‘On taking the chair, Mr. Henry 
stated that while he was highly honored by the election, he felt 
much hesitation in accepting the office, since his duties in con- 
nection with the Smithsonian Institution were more than 
sufficient to occupy his attention, and that he could only accept 
the responsible position with the understanding that he would 
be permitted to retire as soon as the president should be able 
to resume his duties, or his place could be filled by another.” * 
As the event proved, however, Henry did not retire, but re- 
mained at the head of the Academy for twelve years. 
The Academy lost another of its original members, Augustus 
A. Gould, who died on September 15, 1866. 
This year again the Government sought the advice of the 
Academy on technical scientific matters and two committees 
were appointed, one on the improvement of the harbor of San 
Juan del Norte, or Greytown, in Nicaragua, and the other on 
proving and gauging spirits subjected to duty. Both committees 
presented reports, which were published in the annual report 
of the Academy, that relating to the gauging of spirits being 
voluminous and detailed. 
Thirty-eight papers were presented for discussion at the two 
scientific sessions held in 1866, or a few more than were included 
in the programs of the preceding year.’ The subjects covered 
a wider range than those of the preceding year. The greatest 
*Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for 1866, p. x. Sen. Misc. Doc. no. 44, 40th Congress, rst Session. 
"Including three biographical sketches. 
