48 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



In Jamiiiiy of the past year, the Secretary of this Institutiou was des- 

 ij^ijiited as one of such committee (together with Dr. Asa Gray, one ot 

 the Eegents, and Prof. J. S. Newberry). The prize of $1,000 was 

 awarded on their recommendation to Prof. James Hall, of Albany, by 

 the society, May 7, 1884. 



Telegraphic Astronomical Announcements. — lu the last annual report 

 (1883) was recorded the final transfer to the Harvard College Observa- 

 tory of the system of telegraphic announcement of astronomical dis- 

 coveries inaugurated by this Institution in 1873. The belief was ex- 

 pressed that astronomical interests would be benefitted by placing this 

 useful service in the charge of a working observatory. It is gratifying 

 to learn that the expectation has been justified by the result. In the 

 tbirty-eighth Annual Eeport of the Director of the Astronomical Observ- 

 atory of Harvard College (Prof. Edward C. Pickering), laid before the 

 Board of Overseers, January 9, ISSi, it is remarked : 



" The system of announcing astronomical discoveries employed here 

 for some years past has received an important extension during the 

 last year. An association of over fifty observatories has been formed, 

 with its headquarters at Kiel, for the puri)ose of expediting the an- 

 nouncement of astronomical discoveries. The Smithsonian Institution, 

 which had for many years rendered an important service to astronomy 

 by transmitting astronomical' telegrams between Europe and America, 

 courteously signified its readiness to transfer this function to the ob- 

 servatory of Harvard College, upon learning that this observatory was 

 prepared to Undertake it. The change was announced by a circular 

 issued by the Smithsonian Institution on January 10, 1S83, and since 

 that time the observatory has distributed in this country the astro- 

 nomical intelligence received from the European association, and has 

 forwarded to Kiel the information of American discoveries." 



Special Donations to the Smithsonian Institution. — The relationship of 

 Professor Henry, the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to 

 the progress of scientific discovery, by which the Morse electric tele- 

 graph system was established, must always give an interest to anything 

 illustrating the early history of the invention. Knowing this fact, Mr. 

 Stephen Vail has deposited with the Institution one of the two original 

 Morse telegraphic instruments made for experimental service between 

 Washington and Baltimore, and this has been i)laced in the National 

 Museum, where it attracts much interest among inventors. By permis- 

 sion of Mr. Vail it was lent for a time to the Electric Exhibition in 

 Philadelphia, but has been dulj^ returned and put in its proper place. 

 Application has been made for it by parties connected with the New 

 Orleans Exposition, and with the permission of the owner, the instru- 

 ment will be sent to that city. 



A life-size statue of Prof. Benjamin Sillinian, one of the i^ioneers of 

 physical science in America, and the founder of the American Journal of 

 Science, was recently modeled by Prof. John F. Weir, cast in bronze (8 

 feet in height), and i>laced permanently in Yale College, at New Haven. 



