92 TRANSACTIONS OF TME AMERICAN INSTITCTE. 



in a distinct department, a cabinet of minerals) in which should 

 he found specimens from every working mine on the continent, 

 with a book of convenient arrangement for reference, containing 

 the analysis of each specimen and the statistics of each mine. 



IV. It is its peculiar province, and should therefore be promptly 

 and fully met by the Institute, to furnish ample accommodations 

 and facilities to inventors for fairly testing all new inventions, by 

 placing at their service steam power both for heavy and light 

 machinery, at the lowest remunerating rates. 



V. The Institute needs a larger infusion of learned and practic- 

 ally scientific men among its members. This end would probably 

 be easily accomplished if the measures I have proposed were 

 adopted and energetically prosecuted. 



VI. The Institute having proper lecture rooms in their own 

 building would be able to arrange for weekly or daily scientific 

 lectures for the benefit of members, and for annual courses of 

 popular lectures for the public. The latter could be made a cer- 

 tain source of revenue. 



VII. The foregoing suggestions imply a modification of the 

 by-laws ; any action on which, however, I would recommend to be 

 deferred until after the trustees shall have reported upon the pur- 

 chase of a new and permanent location. The change will, in my 

 opinion, have to be radical. 



THOMAS McELRATH. 

 American Institute, JVovember 1, 1860. 



