JOURNAL OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 473 



this apparatus, has been sent to Chamberlain, of Boston, to be repaired, cleaned, and 

 lacquered. The Institution is bound, by the terms of acceptance of the gift, to have 

 the apparatus put in good order. 



Third. In order to fit up a workshop in the basement of the building, the Secretary 

 has purchased of the executors of the late Dr. Jones a lathe, and a lot of tools, for 

 working in wood and metal, the cost of which was fifty dollars. He has also pro- 

 cured a portable forge and bellows, from Philadelphia, at a cost of twenty-six dol- 

 lars. 



Fourth. The apparatus mentioned at the last meeting, as having been received from 

 France, has been unpacked, and all the Galvanometers found broken. The Secretary 

 has written to Paris, complaining of the imperfect packing, and directing new parts 

 to be sent, half of the cost of which to be at the expense of the maker. He has since 

 however, learned that most of the articles can be repaired at a suitable cost in this 

 country. 



Fifth. Dr. Hitchcock, President of Amherst College, accepted the invitation to 

 give a course of lectures, on Geology, for the Institution. He commenced on Mon- 

 day, the 30th of April, in the lecture-room of the east wing, and lectured on each 

 alternate evening, Sunday excepted, until his course of six lectures was finished. 

 The lectures increased in interest, and the room was found entirely too small to con- 

 tain the number of persons that came. One hundred and fifty dollars was paid for 

 the course ; a sum scarcely more than sufficient to defray the expenses of the lecturer. 



Sixth. To accommodate the audience, a number of extra moveable benches was 

 ordered with the consent of two of the members of the Executive Committee. These 

 are now deposited in the basement of the building, and will be found of use in the 

 future meetings of the Institution. 



Seventh. Also, for the convenience of those who attended the lectures, a walk was 

 constructed from the east gate of the Smithsonian grounds to the paved side-walk on 

 Seventh street ; also, the path from the Twelfth street bridge to the building was re- 

 paired. These improvements were ordered after consultation with the Chairman of 

 the Executive Committee. 



Eighth. Dr. Hitchcock having intimated that a series of interesting geological ex- 

 plorations could be made on the remains of ancient sea-margins, existing in our 

 country, provided a small appropriation were made by the Institution, the Secretary 

 had informed him that he thought one hundred dollars could be appropriated for that 

 purpose. Tho Secretary had also authorized Professor Baird, of Pennsylvania, to 

 draw on him for funds to the amount of seventy-five dollars, for collecting, packing,, 

 and transporting specimens of natural history for the Institution. 



Ninth. The meteorological observations continue to improve. We have now up- 

 wards of one hundred observers to whom the minor publications are sent. Blank 

 forms and four thermometers have been forwarded to the missionary stations in the 

 vicinity of Lake Superior. Two barometers and two thermometers have been also 

 sent with Major Stansbury to establish meteorological observations in the Kocky 

 Mountains. 



Tenth. The Eegents of the University of the State of New York have made an ap- 

 propriation for meteorological instruments, and have given the superintendence of 

 their construction to the Smithsonian Institution. 



Eleventh. The Secretary had petitioned the telegraph companies for the use of the 

 telegraph for meteorological purposes, and he had received the assurance of the pres- 

 ident of the lines north of "Washington, that every necessary facility, free of cost, 

 would be afforded the Institution in the prosecution of the above-mentioned object. 

 The Secretary had not as yet received an answer from the directors of the southern 

 line, though his petition was presented two months ago. The president of the com- 

 pany will be in this city in a few days, and will then, the Secretary is informed, give 

 an answer. 



Twelfth. It is proposed to furnish the most important stations between New Orleans 

 and the northern part of Maine, with meteorological instruments, and for this pur- 

 pose, as well as for the use of the Regents of the University of New York, fifty 

 barometers and as many thermometers have been ordered from Green, of Baltimore. 



Thirteenth. A number of standard meteorological instruments have been ordered 

 from London ; a box of them is now in the Custom House in New York. 



