48 KEPOKT OF THE SECKETAKY. 



United States consul at Dologna, were appointed. A letter from Doc- 

 tor Mitchell is herewith appended: 



To the Kegents of the Smithsonian Institution: 



Gentlemen : As representing the Institution over which you preside 

 I went to Bologna, and was present at the eight hundredth anniversary 

 of its famous university. The ceremonies consisted in addresses and a 

 poem by Professor Carducci, Avith presentations to the King and Queen, 

 and with the conferring of degrees in law, letters, science, and med- 

 icine. Mr. James Bussell Lowell was thus honored in letters, Mr. David 

 Dudley Field in law, Alexander Agassiz in science, and myself in med- 

 icine. The "Laureati" were not given LL.D.'s but were made doctors 

 in their respective branches ; a more sensible plan. I shall send a medal 

 and the volumes presented to me, that of these you may make such dis- 

 posal as seem best. 



And I have the honor to be, very respectfully. 



Weir Mitchell. 



Grants and suhscrlptions. — In accordance with a precedent established 

 by the tii>st Secretary to encourage meritorious scientific enterprises 

 undertaken wholly for the advance of knowledge and not for pecuniary 

 gain, a subscription of twenty copies was made for the Astronomical 

 Journal of Dr. B. A. Gould, published at Boston. 



Privilege of floor of the House of Eepresentatives. — A resolution having 

 been introduced in the House of Eepresentatives on the Gth of February, 

 1888, to admit to the privileges of the floor certain officials of the Gov- 

 ernment, Hon. Mr. Cox, of New York, one of the Kegents, introduced a 

 resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Uules, to confer the 

 privilege on the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



It is proper to state that for many years this privilege has been ex- 

 tended to the Secretary by the Senate of the United States. 



Reception. — It was the habit of the first Secretary, when he resided in 

 the Smithsonian building, to give receptions there from time to time, 

 which juany still pleasantly remember. It is, perhaps, proper for the 

 writer to mention that though these rooms are now devoted to official pur- 

 poses he, desiring that the traditions of this kindly hospitality should 

 not entirely lapse, used them on the 17th of April of the i^resent year 

 on an occasion, which, so far as he was able to make it so, was not dis- 

 similar in kind to the former ones in the same place, and which he has 

 reason to hope will be pleasantly associated with them in the recollec- 

 tions of old friends of the Institution. 



Employes of the Institution. — Few changes have occurred in the cleri- 

 cal force. Owing to the independence of the Smithsonian Institution of 

 those alterations which take place with changes of administration in 

 Government Departments, the tenure of office of all its employes is 

 justly regarded as more secure than in other public establishments : 

 and accei)table persons are commonly found willing to take emi)loymeut 



