130 ANNUAL EEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1912. 



days in advance of the date, and it is inconceivable that any outside 

 agency could be relied upon to insure their distribution with the 

 promptness demanded. It is, consequently, felt that the control of 

 this distribution should remain where it is. 



" Reports on this subject were made to the President and to the 

 Commission on Economy and Efficiency under dates of September 

 27 and November 8, last, and in these it was shown that the distri- 

 butions were made on an exceedingly^ low basis of cost. In fact, 

 all ptiblications except those of the Museum are stored in and dis- 

 tributed from the Smithsonian building, which the Government is 

 using Avithout cost. The actual labor of wrapping, labeling, and 

 handling the Smithsonian reports is furnished by the Institution 

 and not by the Government. And from all points of view the trans- 

 fer of the actual work of distribution to another establishment would 

 distinctly tend to reduce the scientific value of the Smithsonian 

 publications and to curtail the benefits whicli the Institution is de- 

 riving from them." 



SMITHSON RELICS. 



" For many years the Smithson relics, those personal belongings 

 that were a close and intimate part of the life of the jfounder, have 

 been cared for in one of the south tower rooms known here as the 

 old Regents' room, because of its former use by the Regents for their 

 meetings. This room is quite inaccessible, so it was decided to 

 arrange the relics, temporarily at least, for exhibition in the central 

 portion of the main hall of the Smithsonian building. They are in 

 special cases under constant supervision, and have aroused a deep 

 interest among those who are acquainted with the history of the 

 Institution. Among the relics may be seen : 



Copy of the matriculation register of Oxford University, showing the name 

 by which Sniitlison was known in 1782 — James Lewis Macie. 

 Several portraits of the founder. 



A portrait of his father, Hugh Smithson, Duke of Northumberland. 

 Visiting cards. 

 Dinner cards. 

 His library. 



Printed copies of papers on chemical subjects, written by Mr. Smithson. 

 Collection of autographs of scientific men, on notes written to Mr. Smithson. 

 His will, showing the wording that made the Smithsonian Institution possible. 



[Incidentally, the secretary spoke of the collection of photographic 

 portraits of Regents being made for permanent preservation, and 

 which was on exhibition in the main hall.] 



ADJOURNMENT. 



There being no further business, on motion, the board adjourned. 



