Report of the Bo abb of Trustees. 5 



•tion thereto, met the approval of their fellow-members. Their aim 

 was to secure lecturers of acknowledged ability, who could give the 

 results of the most recent investigations on the subjects to be 

 elucidated, and who could demonstrate every scientific announcement 

 by convincing experiments. Heretofore there has been great diffi- 

 culty in making such an experiment simultaneously visible to a large 

 number of spectators. Recent improvements made in this country 

 have obviated this difficulty, and enabled the lecturers' of this course 

 to fortify their positions by presenting illuminated representations of 

 minute phenomena, and of the most delicate movements, which could 

 be distinctly seen from all parts of the house. This new method of 

 exhibiting the relations of cause and effect brings the law intended 

 to be explained within the comprehension of the most ordinary 

 capacity. It is gratifying to know that the ocular demonstrations, 

 made under the direction of the American Institute during these 

 scientific lectures, were far superior to any yet seen in European 

 lecture rooms. The amount placed at the disposal of the trustees to 

 defray the expenses of these lectures was $2,500 ; of this sum 

 $1,675.70 have been used, for which vouchers have been examined 

 . and approved by the committee on finance. 



In conclusion, the trustees refer with satisfaction to the volume of 

 Transactions recently published. They regard it as a true exponent 

 of the principles and objects of the American Institute, and a reliable 

 record of scientific progress ; and they believe the proceedings of the 

 present year will form a volume fully as interesting and important 

 as that to which attention is now specially directed. 



WILLIAM B. OGDEN, 

 CHARLES P. DALY, 

 ORESTES CLEVELAND, 

 HENRY A. BURR, 

 EDWARD N. DICKERSON, 

 SYLVESTER R. COMSTOCK, 

 SAMUEL D. TILLMAN, 



Trustees. 

 New York, February 1st, 1872. 



