S. Mis. 53. 29 



A course of six lectures by Dr. B. A. Gould, ji-,, of Cambridge, on 

 die recent progress of astronomy. 



A course of six lectures by Prof. Louis Agassi;;^, of Cambridge, on 

 the foundation of symmetry in the animnl kingdom. 



A course of six lectures b}^ Prof. B. iSilliman, jr., on the four ancient 

 elements — earth, air, fire, and water. 



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

 Henry Goadby, on the structure and functions of insects. 



In the last report to the Regents, some genercal remarks were made 

 relative to the library and museum, and notliing has since occurred to 

 change the opinions then expressed; on the contra rN^, 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 adliere to 

 the resolution of the Regents of 1S47, to devote one h;df of the whole 

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

 required on thebuilding for the accommodation of these objects. By 

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

 be seen that the general incidental expenses have continually increased 

 from year to year, and it is evident that they must continue to increase 

 in a geometrical ratio, on account of the greater repairs which, in time, 

 will l)e required on the building. After deducting from the income the 

 cost of repairs, lighting, and heating; of messenger, attendants, and 

 watchmen ; of stationery, transportation, and postage ; after dividing 

 the remainder by two, and deducting from the quotient the expense of 

 the public lectures, the final sum to be devoted to the most important, 

 and, indeed, the only legitimate object of the bequest, is exceedingly 

 small. 



The attempt has, however, been made in good fiith to carry out the 

 resolution of February, 1847; and if items which may properly be 

 charged to the library and collections were added to this side of the 

 account, the l^alance up to the present date would be in favor of the 

 active op(!ra.tions. But the plan has not been fjund to work well in 

 practice. The income is too small to propcndy support more than one 

 system of operations, and theref)re the attempt to establish and sustain 

 three dej)artments, with separate ends and separate interests, must 

 lead to inharmonious action, and consequently to tliminished usefulness. 



However proper such a division of the income might have been in 

 the beginning, in order to harmonize conflicting opinions, and to submit 

 with proper caution the several proposed schemes to a judicious trial, 

 the same considerations do not now exist for its continuance; changes 

 have since occurred which materially altc^r the conditions on which the 

 resolution was founded. The plan of active operations was not at first 

 fully understood even by the literary men of the country. It was 

 considered chimerical, and incapable of being continued for an}^ length 

 of time ; and hence it was thought important to provide for the means 

 of fidling back upon a library and collections. The experience of six 

 years has, however, established its practicability and importance, and 

 it is now considered by the great majorit}^ of intellin;cnt pc-rsons 

 who have studied the subject the only direct means of realizing the 



