LETTER 



OF THE 



SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 



COMMUNICATING 



The Annual Eeport of the Board of Regents. 



Februart 28, 1857. — Read and ordered to be printed. 

 March 3, 1857 — Ordered, That ten thousand additional copies of the Report of the Board of 

 Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, for the year 1856, be printed ; two thousand Ave 

 hundred of which shall be for the use of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Smithsonian Institution, 



Washington, February IT, 1857. 

 Sir : In "behalf of the Board of Eegents, I have the honor to submit 

 to the House of Representatives of the United States the Annual 

 Report of the operations, expenditures,, and condition of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution for the year 1856. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



JOSEPH HENRY, 

 Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



Hon. Jas. M. Mason, 



President Senate United States. 



