REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 11 



Pennsylvania, from tlie Ooinniittee on tin^ Library, snbinitted a report 

 stating that, in the opinion of the committee, the collection should be 

 purchased by the Government and placed in the National Museum, 

 This bill did not i>ass the House. It was again introduced into the 

 Senate on December 4, 1889, by Senator Voorhees, and passed the Sen- 

 ate on March 21), 1890. It was also reported a second time from the 

 House Committee on the Library, on May 19, 1890, but failed to pass. 

 In the sundry civil bill for tlie year ending June 30, 1892, an appropri- 

 ation of •'B 10,000 was made for the jjurchase of this collection. 



The lac(piered objects are the most valuable iu the collection, par- 

 ticularly the four specimens which bear the crest of one of the families 

 of the Shoguns. The bronzes are forty-six in number, and iu addition 

 there are two objects iu silver bronze and one in gold bronze, represent- 

 ing birds and flowers. The ivory carvings are thirty-seven in number. 

 There is also included a collection of sixty- three Japanese coins, thirtv- 

 11 ve of which are of gold. 



When Gen. Oapron returned to the United States, he generously 

 placed these treasures in the custody of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 where they were exhibited. After his death, iu 1885, Mrs. Capron 

 siginfied her desire to allow the collection to remain in the Institution. 

 It has always attracted a great deal of attention from visitors of all 

 classes, and its acquisition by the Government of the United States is 

 a source of congratulation. 



TYPES OF THE OWEN COLLECTION OF FOSSILS. 



The Owen type specimens of fossils, mentioned on page 759 of the 

 report of the National Musem for 1888 as having been "presented" to the 

 -Aluseum by the Indiana State University through the courtesy of the 

 university, will be retained in the National Museum as a "deposit" 

 subject to the order of the board of trustees of the university. These 

 specimens have been described and illustrated in Government publica- 

 tions. 



MEETINGS OF ASSOCIATIONS IN WASHINGTON DURING THE YEAR. 



Washington has during recent years been selected as the place for 

 holding meetings of a large number of national and international socie- 

 ties of all kinds. Each year has seen an increase in this respect, and 

 the matter has now become of such importance (not so much, how- 

 ever, on account of the number as of the eharacter of the societies) 

 that it seems proper to make mention of it in a report which is intended 

 to contain in a general way a reference to all efforts to develop and 

 encourage research, both from a scientific, economic, and a literary 

 ])oint of view. There is probably no place in the country better suited 

 for such meetings. The seat of government and center of political 

 activity lias become accustomed to receiving and entertaining organi- 

 zations. 



