10 EEPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 



"A BILL (H. R. No. 5781) for the erection of a fire-proof building on the south por- 

 tion of the Smithsonian reservation, for the accommodOition of the United States 

 Geological Survey, and for other purposes. 



"J5e it enacted, ct'c, That the sum of two hundred thousand dollars 

 be, and hereby is, appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not 

 otherwise appropriated, for the erection of a fire-proof building on the 

 south portion of the Smithsonian reservation for the accommodation of 

 the United States Geological Survey, and for other jjurposes : Provided^ 

 That the consent of the Eegents of the Smithsonian Institution be first 

 obtained thereto, and that the building be under their direction when 

 completed: And provided further, That the building be erected by the 

 Architect of the Capitol, in accordance with plans approved by the 

 Director of the United States Geological Survey, the Secretary of the 

 Smithsonian Institution and the Architect of the Capitol acting as a 

 board therefor." 



MEETINGS OF SCIENTIFIO BODIES. 



The Board of Eegents authorized the Secretary " to provide in the 

 building of the new Museum such accommodations as the Isational 

 Academy of Sciences may need at its meetings in Washington, and in 

 connection with the executive committee to extend similar hospitality 

 to other organizations of cognate character and importance." 



Under the authority thus conferred, meetings were held during the 

 past year in the new Museum* by the National Academy of Sciences 

 (April 18, 1882), the American Institute of Mining Engineers (Febru- 

 ary 21, 1882), and the National Dental Association (August 3, 4, 5, 1882). 



The hall of the Museum has also been used for the bi-monthly meet- 

 ings of the Biological Society of Washington, and for lectures on Satur- 

 day afternoons in the months of March and April, 1882, under the au- 

 spices of the Anthropological and Biological Societies of Washington. 



The following is a list of these lectures : 



Introductory Address. By Maj. J. W. Powell, Director, United States 

 Geological Survey. 



Scientific and Popular Views of Nature Contrasted. By Prof. Thee 

 Gill. 



What is Anthropology? By Prof. Otis T. Mason. 



Contrasts of the Appalachian Mountains. By Prof. J. W. Chicker- 

 jng, Jr. 



Outlines of Sociology. By Maj. J. W. Powell. 



Little Known Facts about Weil-Known Animals. By Prof. C. V. 

 EUey. 



Paul Broca and the French School of Anthropology. By Dr. Eobert 

 Fletcher. 



Deep Sea Explorations. By Prof. Wm. fl. Dall. 



How we See. By Dr. Swan M. Burnett. 



I would state that a formal visit was made to the Institution on the 

 2d February, 1882, by the newly api)ointed Chinese minister, Mr. Cheng 



