48 KEPOKT OF THE SECRETARY. 



United States coiksuI ;it Bologna, were appointed. A letter from Doc- 

 tor Mitchell is herewith api)euded: 



To the Eegents of the Smithsonian Institution: 



Gentlemen : As representing the Institution over which yon preside 

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

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

 poem by Professor Card ncci, with presentations to the King and Queen, 

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

 icine. Mr. James Enssell 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 sMhscriptions. — In accordance with a precedent established 

 by the lirst Secretary to encourage meritorious scientitic 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 Jioor of the House of Reinesentatives. — A resolution having 

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

 18S8, to admit to the privileges of the floor certain officials of the Gov- 

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

 resolution, which Avas referred to the Committee on Eules, to confer the 

 l^rivilege 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 ho resided in 

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

 which many still pleasantly remember. It is, perhaps, jiroper for the 

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

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

 not entirely lapse, used them on the 17th of April of the present 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 i)leasantly 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 acceptable persons are commonly found willing to take employment 



