RECORDS OF MEETINGS. 



555 



The Corresponding Secretary read the following letters : an 

 invitation from the Museum of Fine Arts, to the opening of its 

 new building ; from the Secretary of the International Congress 

 of Americanists, a notification of the 17th Congress. 



The Committee on the proposed action regarding Antarctic 

 exploration reported as follows : — 



" We believe that it is fitting for governments to take part in ex- 

 ploration. Our government has already done it in moderate measure ; 

 other governments have done more. 



We believe, also, that it is fitting for learned societies to take part in 

 promoting government exploration by making recommendations to this 

 end. 



We find that the particular plan under consideration deserves our 

 support, because the work proposed is well worthy of investigation ; it 

 touches a region in which our previous national exploration gave good 

 results but left much to be done. There is abundant room for co- 

 operative exploration in the Antarctic regions by various countries. 



We therefore recommend that favorable action be taken by the Acad- 

 emy on the communication from the American Philosophical Society." 



W. M. Davis. 

 A. Lawrence Rotch. 



On motion of the Corresponding Secretary it was 

 Voted, That the Academy take favorable action on the com- 

 munication from the American Philosophical Society. 



The following letter from Alexander Agassiz regarding his 

 presentation of a new building to the Academy was read by the 

 President : — 



October 16 [1909]. 

 My dear Mr. Trowbridge, 



I have at last bought the house adjoining the Academy's building 

 on Newbury Street, — No. 26, so that on my return from the West 

 I shall be ready to make my proposition to the Academy for their con- 

 sideration and decision. The house is let for 2 years but I fancy we 

 could obtain possession earlier. In meanwhile the architects can per- 

 fect the plans. It will be necessary while building, for the Academy 

 to get shelter from the Historical Society or Natural History Society 

 and to hire a room for their office for say 18 months. As the Acad- 

 emy will have ample room, I think we could increase the number of 

 members by 150 or 200, which would pay for increased expense of run- 



