REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 91 



sition. A grand (lii)l()iua of honor was given to the (lovernnient of the 

 Uuited States, Twelve gohl ineihtls with <liph)nias. eighteen silvei' 

 medals with diplomas, thirteen bronze medals with diplomas, were 

 awarded, while thirty-six exhibitors received liouorable mention. A 

 list of the medals and diplomas is given in the Appendix,* which cou- 

 taius also a list of exhibitors. 



It should be said in this connection that with the exception of the 

 exhibits sent by the Bureau of American Eepublies, the Univeisity of 

 Pennsylvania, and the Ilemenway expedition these mentioned in this 

 list were all sent at the request of the Smithsonian Institution, and 

 were mounted, labeled, and exhibited as a part of its display. Indeed, 

 as was recognized by the Government, but for the enthusiastic cooper- 

 ation afforded by the Smithsonian Institution it would have been impos- 

 sible in the short time between the passage of the appropriation and 

 the opening of the exposition, to have prepared and forwarded an 

 exhibit which would have been at all creditable to the Uuited States. 



Incidentally may be mentioned the award by the Queen Regent of 

 the grand cross of naval merit to Admiral Luce, and that of com- 

 mander in the Koyal Order of Ysabel la Catolica to Mv. W. E. Curtis, 

 Dr. Thomas Wilson, and the writer 5 and that of knight in the same 

 order to Messrs. Hough, Fewkes, and Culin, while the latter was also 

 honored by election to membership in the Royal Academy of History. 



At the close of the exposition Admiral Luce, who remains in Europe, 

 dissolved his official connection with the commission, and the closing 

 uji of the business of the commission is left in the hands of the writer 

 as Acting Commissioner-General, with the assistance of Dr. Hough as 

 executive officer, while the other commissioner. Dr. Brinton, is engaged 

 upon the preparation of the general report, which will be jmblished 

 during the coming year, supplemented by a catalogue of the objects dis- 

 played by the Museum, by Messrs. Wilson and Hough, and papers by 

 Mrs. Zelia Nuttall, upon "Ancient Mexican Feather Work;" by Dr. 

 Hough, on "Ancient American Pottery as shown at the Exposition," 

 and Mr. H. C. Mercer, on the " Chipped Stone Implements shown at the 

 Exposition." 



In view of the great interest in this exposition, and of the fact that 

 the publication of the official report may be somewhat delayed, I include 

 here a discussion of the exijosition in its general aspects front the pen 

 of Dr. Walter Hough.t 



The display which was brought together iu Madrid was the greatest eollectiou of 

 Ameiicaua ever under oue roof, and brought into contrast, side by side the art of the 

 Ohl Worhl at the time of the discovery aud that of the Xew ^^"orld, roiiglily on 

 either side of the discovery. 



'Appendix, No. x. 



t A description of the Exposition in some of its features was printed Ity Dr. Thomas 

 Wilson in the "American Naturalist" for September and October. 1S9.S. 



