S. Mis. 53. 27 



Museum of Natural History. — The ndclitions to the collection in 

 naturnl history, under the persevering efforts of Professor Baird, have 

 increased in a compound ratio over those of previous years. Large 

 additions will also be made by the exploring expeditions which are 

 about to leave for the different parts of this continent and distant seas, 

 but the expense of preparing and transporting these, it is hoped will 

 be defrayed by the general government. For a detailed account of 

 tlie number and variety of the specimens collected, I must refer to 

 Professor Buird's report accompanying this communication. 



Gallery of Art. — Besides a library, a museum, and lectures, the act 

 of Congress establishing the Smithsonian Institution directed the forma- 

 tion of a gallery of art. The only articles belonqing to the Institutioii 

 which have been yet collected, in accordance with the last-mentioned 

 regulation of Congress, are the valuable series of engravings by the old 

 masters, described in a previous report. One of the original propo- 

 sitions of the programme is that of encouraging arl, by providing a 

 suitable room for the exhibition of pictures free of expense to the 

 artist. In accordance with this, the large room in the west wing will 

 be devoted to this purpose. It now contains a ver}^ interesting series 

 of portraits, mostly full-size, of one hundred and fifty-two North Ameri- 

 can Indians, with sketches of the scenery of the country they inhabit, 

 deposited by the artist who painted them, Mr. J. M. Stanley. These 

 portraits were all taken from life, and are accurate representations of 

 the peculiar features of prominent individuals of forty-three different 

 tribes, inhabiting the southwestern prairies. New Mexico, California, 

 and Oregon. The faithfulness of the likenesses has been attested by 

 a number of intelligent persons who have visited the gallery, and have 

 immediately recognised among the portraits those of the individuals 

 with whom they have been personally acquainted. The author devoted 

 to the work of obtainmg these pictures ten years of his life, and per- 

 severingly devoted himself to his task in the face of difficulties and 

 dangers which enthusiasm in the pursuit could alone enable him to 

 encounter. The Institution has published a descriptive catalogue of 

 tliesc portraits, which are of interest to the ethnologist as representa- 

 tives of the peculiar physiognomy, as well as of many of the customs, 

 of the natives of this continent. 



Lectures of the Institution. — Public lectures have become one of the 

 diaracteristics of the day, and next to the press, perhaps, tend niore 

 than any other means of difllising knowledge, to impress the public mincL 

 The liberal price paid by the Lowell Institute, and some of the asso- 

 ciations in our large citie?, induces men of reputation to devote them- 

 selves to the preparation of popular lectures. In some parts of the 

 country a number of adjacent cities or villages enter into an arrangement 

 by which the same lecture may be repeated, in succession, at each 

 place ; and in this way the amount paid becomes sufficient to call forth 

 the best talent. A plan of tliis kind has been adopted by die Athenae- 

 um of Richmond, Virginia, with reference to the lectures before the 

 Smithsonian Institution, the eflfcct of which has been mutually benefi- 

 cial. Popular lectures appear better adapted to present literary and 

 historical facts, and to give infiormation relative to subjects of art and 

 of moral*, than to impart knowledge of scientific principles. These 



