.23 [ 1 ] 



'everything of interest connected with these works, and to present theni, 

 with suitable descriptions, to the Institution, for publication. 



Mr. E. G. Squier, during his sojourn in Central America, as Charge d' 

 AtVaircs of the United States, made some interesting explorations relative 

 to the antiquities of that country, and has sent to this Institution five 

 large stone idols and several smaller objects, as the beginning of an Eth- 

 nological Museum. For the cost of shipment and transportation of the 

 three larger of those idols by way of Cape Horn, the Institution is indebted 

 to the liberaJity of B. Blanco, Esq., of New York. 



For some remarks relative to the importance of forming an Ethnologi- 

 cal museum, I beg to refer to a pajjer by Mr. Squier, given in the appendix 

 to this report. 



APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS OF EF.SEARCII. 



It is a part of the plan of the Institution, to appropriate a small portion 

 •of the funds, to the purchase of sets of instruments of physical research, 

 to be used by the ofhcers of the Institution, and under certain restrictions, 

 by other persons- In accordance witli this purpose, I was requested, by 

 the Board of Regents, to pi'ocure an astron-omical clock, with the electro 

 magnetic registering apparatus, to be lent to Lieutenant Gillis during the 

 continuance of his astronomical labors in Chili. The clock has been im- 

 ported from Germany, and is now in the hands of the instrument maker, to 

 receive the registering attachments. The whole will be sent to Chili, as 

 soon as the apparatus is completetl. I regret that the difficulty of pro- 

 <niring the services of suitable workmen has delayed, so long, the comple- 

 tion of these instruments. 



A communication from Lieutenant Gillis, inform.s us that the Chilian 

 Government has resolved to establish a permanent National observatory 

 at Santiago, and that it will purchase the instruments above mentioned. 

 The Institution will therefore again, as in the case mentioned in a former 

 report, of the purchase of a telescope, for the same expedition, be the 

 means of promoting science, without an expenditure of its income. 



The apparatus for determining the elements of terrestrial magnetism, 

 mentioned in my last report, as having been lent to Colonel Emory, has 

 been delivered to Colonel Graham, to be used on the Mexican boundary 

 survey. To replace these, the Institution has received permission to 

 order another set, from London, at the expense of the government, and 

 tlms, by an addition to the number of instruments of this kind, the means 

 of ])romoting the science of terrestrial magnetism, in this country, will be 

 increased. 



The purchase of standard meteorological apparatus, and also the instru- 

 ments which have been distributed to different important stations, through- 

 out the country, is a part of the same plan. 



During the past year a considerable portion of the apparatus constitu- 

 ting the liberal donation of Dr. llare, of Philadel})hia, has been repaired 

 and fitted up; and it is hoped, during the present season, to eom]ilete the 

 repairs of the remainder, and to place the whole in a proper position fer 

 •exhibition and use. 



LIBRARY. 



It has been stated, that the programme of organization is intended to 



