REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1909. 33 



battery is the smallest of a series used in 1866 to demonstrate that 

 batteries of very high power were not necessary to operate the cable. 



The aeronautical exhibit under this division now contains Dr. S. P. 

 Langley's small aerodromes of 1896, 1898, and 1903, all of which 

 made successful flights, the engine of his full-size machine, the 

 Stringfellow machine of 1868, the Hargrave machine of 1891, the 

 Lilienthal air-sailer, and the models from Mr. Chanute above referred 

 to. Prominent aeronauts, members of aeronautical clubs, and others, 

 have visited the Museum to study these objects, and the collection of 

 firearms has received equal attention from experts in that field. 

 Many persons connected with or interested in the Hudson-Fulton 

 celebration at New York in September, 1909, have sought informa- 

 tion to be utilized in connection with the exhibits which will be pre- 

 pared for that event, and especially regarding Fulton's steamboat, the 

 ClerTnont. An examination of the model of the Clermont in the Mu- 

 seum and such other data as could be furnished here have served to 

 correct much misapprehension respecting the size and form of that 

 steamer. In September, 1908, a special exhibition of fishing boats 

 was arranged for the benefit of the International Fisheries Congress, 

 which held its session in this city during the last week of that month. 

 Mr. Francis D. Millet also made use of the boat models in preparing 

 a series of paintings illustrative of the history of industrial develop- 

 ment in the United States. 



Ceramics. — Of exceptional interest among the accessions to this 

 division were a celadon vase and a peachblow vase, both of great 

 beauty and rarity, presented to the Museum by the Imperial Chinese 

 Government. The celadon vase is of the Yung-cheng period (1723- 

 1735), the peachblow, of the K'ang-hsi period (1662-1722). Three 

 specimens of Hampshire ware were received as a gift from Messrs. 

 J. S. Taft & Co., of Keene, New Hampshire, and placed with the 

 examples of American art ceramics. Miss Katherine Kavanaugh, of 

 Washington, District of Columbia, lent a teapot of the beautiful 

 ivory white glaze in which the Chinese potters have excelled. The 

 general installation has been changed onl}^ in minor respects. The 

 Hippisley collection of Chinese porcelains was carefully rearranged 

 with the aid of Mr. Frits von Holm, in order to bring important 

 pieces into better view. Mr. Alfred E. Hippisley, who is an authority 

 on Chinese porcelains, and whose collection in the National Museum 

 is one of the best known in the world, examined the ceramic series on 

 his return from China during the year, and gave valuable information 

 concerning specimens in the general exhibit. 



Grajjliic arts. — The accessions in this division were more numer- 

 ous than for some years, among the more noteworthy being 144 

 process color prints and 32 photogelatin process prints donated by 



