42 EEPOKT OF THE SECRETARY, 



IGl, maps and charts, 55. making a total of 5,035 articles. In addi- 

 tion to tbeso about 500 volumes have been purchased. 



A catalogue of transactions and proceedings of learned societies 

 contained in the library of the Smithsonian Institution was published 

 in July, 1858, and widely distributed, with a circular requesting that 

 the deficiencies in the sets might be supplied, and other series be 

 added to the collection from the duplicates in foreign libraries. This 

 request has been so liberally complied with, and so many additions 

 have been made to the collection, that a new edition of the catalogue 

 has become necessary. This work is nearly ready for the press, and 

 if the means of the Institution should permit, will be published during 

 the coming year. 



The value of this library will be much enhanced by the publication 

 of the Systematic Index to all the ai'ticles contained in the transac- 

 tions and proceedings of the learned societies of the world, now in 

 course of preparation under the supervision of a committee of the 

 Royal Society of London. This index will include the titles of papers 

 published by the academies of Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Nether- 

 lands, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, Italy, and the States of 

 North America. Some idea of the magnitude of the work, says Gen- 

 eral Sabine, may be formed from the fact, that it begins with the year 

 1800, and is brouglit down to the close of the year 18G0. The titles 

 are all in quadruplicate and now form sixty-two manuscript volumes. 

 It is expected that the index will be completed within the year 18G3. 

 and that it will be published without unnecessary delay. It will be 

 a w^ork of immense importance to all engaged in scientific pursuits ; 

 it is difficult to estimate the amount of waste of time and labor of the 

 student, arising from ignorance of what has already been achievedan 

 the several departments of science; and none but one who has en- 

 deavored in the investigation of perhaps a single subject to explore 

 the contents of scientific periodicals can judge of the weariness and 

 discouragements of the search. A copy of this work will undoubtedly 

 find a place in each of the principal libraries of the United States, 

 and with the distribution of the catalogue before-mentioned will give 

 the American student ready reference and access through the Smith- 

 sonian collection to all the important original papers on scientific sub- 

 jects which have been published during the present century. 



Gallery of Art. — The only additions made to the Gallery of Art 

 during the past year, have been a bust of Professor Benjamin Silli- 



