THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 251 



sons from a distance, who have expressed surprise to find such a large 

 and respectlul attendance in a city which is commonly thought to be 

 exclusively devoted to politics and amusement. The plan of inviting 

 gentlemen of reputation and influence from a distance; renders the 

 Smithsonian operations familiar to those best qualified to appreciate 

 their value, and best able to give a correct account of the character of 

 the Institution in their own districts of country, as well as to vindicate 

 its claims to the confidence and friendly regard of the public. The 

 results of this course, and the distribution of the volumes of Contribu- 

 tions to colleges and other institutions, it is hoped, will so establish the 

 Institution in the good opinion of the intelligent and influential part of 

 the community, that it may bid defiance to the assaults of those who 

 are ignorant of its true character, or are disappointed in not sharing its 

 honors without the' talents or the industry to win them. 



The following is a hst of the titles of lectures given during the last 

 session of Congress, with the names of the gentlemen by whom they 

 were delivered : 



A course of three lectures by Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., on Arctic 

 Exploration. 



A course of three lectures by President Mark Hopkins, of WiUiams 

 College, on Method applied to Investigation. 



A course of four lectures by Prof. W. B. Rogers, of the Universitv 

 of Virginia, on the Phases of the Atmosphere. 



A course of twelve lectures by Dr. Benjamin Silliman, sen., of Yale 

 College, on Geology. 



A course of two lectures by Prof C. C. Felloii, of Harvard Univer- 

 sity, on Greek Literature. 



One lecture, by Job R. Tyson, esq., of Philadelphia : (^ueen Ehza- 

 beth and Ohver Cromwell, their characters and times, contrasted and 

 compared. 



A course of six lectures by Dr. B. A. Gould, jr., ol" Cambridge, on 

 the Recent I'rogress of Astronomy. 



A course of six lectures by Prof Louis Agassiz, of Cambridge, on 

 tiie Foundation of Symmetry in the Animal Kingdom. 



A course of six lectures by Prof B. »Silliman, jr., on the four ancient 

 elements — Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. 



Omitted from previous report : A course of twelve lectures by Dr. 

 Henry Goadliy, on the Structure and I'unctions of Insects. 



In tlu! last Report to the Regents some general remarks were made 

 relative to the library and museum, and nothing has since occurred to 

 change the opinions then expressed. On the contrary, the experience 

 of another year has tended to confirm these opinions, and to clearly 

 exhibit the fact that it will be impossible to continue with the present 

 income some of the most important operations, and rigidly adhere to 

 the resolution of the Regents of 1847, to devote one half of the whole 

 income to the library and museum, besides all the expenditures still 

 required on the building for the accommodation of these objects. Bj 

 a reference to the annual reports of the Executive Committee, it will 

 be seen that the general incidental expenses have continually increased 



