8 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



The promotion of original research has always in the history of the 

 Institution been regarded as one of its most important functions, and 

 the proper object of the personal attention of the Secretary ; and I shall 

 be very glad to do something in this direction on the most modest scale, 

 rather than incur the chance of indefinite further delay. 



In this connection I desire to say that a valuable collection of recently 

 constructed apparatus, most of it exactly suited to the wants of the 

 proposed laboratory, and which was the property of the late William 

 Thaw, of Pittsburgh, has been, by his wish and the consent of his ex- 

 ecutors, loaned to the Institution for use in this direction. 



Comparatively few of the collections of the Institution or of the Museum 

 have reference to the physical sciences. The appara.tus collected by Pro- 

 fessor Henry, together with some few archaic instruments illustrating 

 the early history of methods of precision which I have added, are now 

 being placed in the south hall of the main building, and it will gratify 

 me to see this lead to accessions in illustration of the history of research 

 in all branches of science. 



EXPLORATIONS. 



The Smithsonian Institution has during the year enjoyed the valu- 

 able assistance of several persons who have expressed their willing- 

 ness to prosecute special researches in its behalf, or have generously 

 offered to allow the Museum to share in their results. 



In embracing these opportunities it has been the policy of the Insti- 

 tution to endeavor to obtain information and, when possible, to secure 

 specimens, in regard to subjects in which the Museum collections 

 were most deficient, and thus to fill some of the most imj)ortant gaps 

 in special collections rather than to obtain large collections of miscel- 

 laneous material. 



Mr. Talcott Williams, of Philadelphia, visited the northern part of 

 Africa early in the present year, and, before goiug, kindly offered to make 

 special inquiries in regard to the civilization of the modern Arabs and 

 the natural history of the region, and to collect, if possible, linguistic 

 sppcimens. It was his intention to journey direct to Tangiers, thence 

 to Fez and Mequinez, continuing, if time permitted, as far as Mogador 

 and Morocco. Mr. Williams is familiar with the Arabic language, 

 which will greatly facilitate his investigations in that country. The re- 

 gion has rarely been visited by naturalists, and the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution will no doubt obtain very important information, and probably 

 also some valuable collections. The special studies to which Mr. Will- 

 iams intends to devote himself are botany, geology, and archaeology. 

 At the time of his arrival the North African flora was in flower, so that 

 his opportunities in the first direction were excellent. The geology 

 of Northern Africa is poorly represented in the National Museum, and 

 characteristic rocks and photographs of feature of physical geology 

 will be very acceptable. The subject of most importance to the Smith- 



