REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 35 



is divided into three parts. A brief introduction of 4 pages presents 

 the proceedings of Congress in relation to the holding of memorial serv- 

 ices in the hall of the House of Eepresentatives, and also in relation to 

 the printing of the same, together with such other testimonials of respect 

 as the Eegents might deem congruous with the object of the work. Part 

 first embraces the primary proceedings more immediately connected 

 with the obsequies, commencing api)ropriately with the reproduction 

 of the announcement of the death of Joseph Ilenry, by the Chancellor, 

 Chief Justice Waite, issned on the day following that melancholy event, 

 and addressed as a formal or official obituary notice to all the cor- 

 resi)ondents of the Institution, in our own country or abroad, followed 

 by an account of the i»roceedings of the Board of Itegeuts on the occa- 

 sion of the funeral services, with the sermon of the liev. Samuel S. 

 Mitchell, and of the steps taken by the Kegents on the day following to 

 obtain a public commemoration. Part second comprises an account of 

 the memorial services at the Capitol, presided over by the Vice-Presi- 

 dent, taken from the Congressional Kecord, and consisting of an open- 

 ing prayer by President McCosh of Princeton, addresses by Senators 

 Hamlin and Withers, Eepresentatives Garfield and Cox, Professors 

 Gray of Cambridge and Eogers of Boston, and by General Sherman, 

 the reading of telegrams by Eepresentative Clymer, and a closing prayer 

 by the Chaplain of the Senate, Eev. Dr. Sunderland. Part third com- 

 prises proceedings by, and addresses before, various bodies with which 

 Professor Henry had been prominently connected. The volume con- 

 cludes with an appendix of 4 pages, recounting the proceedings of 

 Congress with reference to the erection on the Smithsonian grounds of 

 a statue of Joseph Henry. The whole is followed by a general index of 

 12 pages. 



Digest of Atomic Weiglits. — Among the Miscellaneous Collections a 

 carefully-prepared digest of "Atomic Weights," by George F. Becker, 

 of California, has been published during the past year, constituting No. 

 358 of the Smithsonian series. This work, comprising 150 octavo pages, 

 consists of a collection of all the determinations of the atomic weights 

 of the chemical elements heretofore made. The elements are alphabet- 

 ically arranged, with critical notices under each, and the authorities for 

 varying determinations, together with precise citations to the publica- 

 tions or records, are fully given. The whole is accompanied with a full 

 index of the journals and other i)ublications, both foreign and domestic, 

 which have been laid under contribution ; and a second index gives an 

 alphabetical list of the authors of atomic weight determinations. The 

 work evinces a pains-taking diligence in collecting from every available 

 source (in whatever language) the information desired ; and it will prove 

 a valuable work of reference to both the theoretical and the practical 

 chemist. 



This publication is in continuation of a line of scientific manuals on 

 the "Constants of Nature," projected by the Institution, and may be 



