356 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



The Institution lias now upwards of 1,800 foreign correspondents con- 

 nected with the exchanges. It has 400 regular meteorological observers. 

 It is in communication with almost all the colleges, libraries, literary, 

 and scientific societies in America, besides being continually called 

 upon by individuals in every part of the country for information on 

 scientific subjects. It publishes annually upward of a thousand 

 printed pages, requiring much labor in correcting copy, reading proof, 

 and attending to the details of printing, binding, &c. Its system of 

 international exchanges, exclusive of the correspondence, involves a large 

 amount of time and labor in doing up and directing the separate pack- 

 ages sent away, and in receiving and distributing those from abroad. 

 Several thousand volumes are annually received from foreign and 

 domestic exchanges, which are all recorded at the Institution previous 

 to being deposited in the Library of Congress. The arrangement of the 

 material constantly received from the meteorological observers, supply- 

 ing them with blanks and instructions, occasions another draught on 

 the labors of the working corps of the Institution. 



The continual repairs and care of the building are another item requir- 

 ing supervision, besides the reconstruction of the parts of the edifice 

 destroyed by the fire. But above all, the entering and care of the thou- 

 sands of specimens which are constantly received, their assortment, and 

 distribution of duplicates, is sufficient to occupy the entire time of a sep- 

 arate corps of assistants. It may be said with truth that in no institu- 

 tion has more work been done with a smaller number of persons than 

 at the Smithsonian. 



The difficulty in carrying on the operations of the Institution had been 

 increased since the last meeting of the Board by the resignation of Mr. 

 Rhees, who had held the position of chief clerk for seventeen years. 

 He had, however, lately learned that Mr. Ehees might be induced to re- 

 turn to his former position, to which the Secretary desired to recall him. 



On motion of General Garfield, it was 



Resolved, That the Secretary be allowed to appoint a permanent as- 

 sistant as chief clerk, at a salary not to exceed $175 per month. 



General Garfield presented a letter from General Delafield, tendering 

 his resignation as a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Mr. Poland offered the following resolution, which was adopted unan 

 imously : 



Resolved by the Board of Regents, That they entertain the highest 

 appreciation of the services of General Richard Delafield as a member 

 of the Board, and especially as a member of the executive committee, 

 and greatly regret the loss caused by his resignation, and desire to ex- 

 press to him, upon his retirement, their strong personal regard. 



Dr. Parker presented the report of the executive committee for 1870, 

 which was read and accepted. 



The board then adjourned to meet at the call of the Secretary. 



