REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 63 



the Interior Department has naturally arisen a frequent communication 

 relative to the material and information derived from the various gov- 

 ernment explorations and geological surveys. The Treasury Depart- 

 ment has had occasion to institute investigations relative to the precise 

 identification of manufactured and other articles, and the methods of 

 detecting substitutions or adulterations, with special reference to cus- 

 toms duties and the prevention of fraud in the collection of revenue. 

 With the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, interesting rela- 

 tions have sprung up relative to certain features in physical geography. 

 The scientific character of the National Observatory has naturally 

 brought about an affiliation of the interests and purposes of the two 

 institutions, and co-operation has been maintained especially with refer- 

 ence to the international transmission of astronomical discoveries by 

 telegraph. To the custody of the Agricultural Department, the In- 

 stitution has transferred from time to time all the entomological and 

 botanical material coming into its possession from the contributions of 

 its numerous correspondents. 



Gallery of Art. — In conformity with the established policy of the In- 

 stitution — " co-oi^eration rather than competition " — it has made the 

 Corcoran Art Gallery its depository of any works of fine art it may re- 

 ceive by exchange or otherwise. 



A portrait which is claimed to be an original likeness of General 

 Washington was sent to the Institution by Mr. E. C. Bruce, of Virginia, 

 to be placed on exhibition in hopes of finding a purchaser at a satisfac- 

 tory i>rice. This portrait, said to have been painted by Mr. Polk, was, 

 with the consent of the owner, deposited in the Corcoran Art Gallerj', 

 where it is now on exhibition. 



In the early i^art of the year a letter was received from Mr. 

 W. W. Evans, of New York, suggesting that communication be ad- 

 dressed to the Government of Italy for the purpose of obtaining some 

 of the numerous duplicates secured by the latter in the progress of the 

 excavations at Pompeii. In pursuance of the suggestion a correspond- 

 ence was entered into, through the American minister in Eome, with the 

 proper authorities in Italy. This is not yet concluded, but it is thought 

 that whenever a suitable exchange can be offered on the part of the Na- 

 tional Museum the desired object may be accomplished. 



In connection with the subject of art, a favorable mention should be 

 made of a life-size bust of Professor Henrj^, by Mrs. C. S. Brooks, of 

 New York, now on exhibition in the Kegents' room of the Smithsonian 

 building. Tliis bust, of considerable merit as a portraiture, is remark- 

 able as having been modelled entirely from a i)hotograi)h. 



Polaris Expedition. — The history of the expedition of Cai)t. C, F. Hall 

 in the direction of the North Pole, on the steamer Polaris, and its gen- 

 eral results, have already been referred to in previous reports. As was 



