EEPOKT OF THE SECRETARY. 25 



ceptions, is unproductive of positive results. The Institution does not dis- 

 card antecedent speculations provided deductions from them are made in 

 the form of new results which are verified by actual phenomena. It is not 

 enough that a new hypothesis may give a general explanation of a class 

 of phenomena in order that it may be adopted ; it must do more than 

 this. It must point out new facts and phenomena which can be readily 

 exhibited by experiment or verified by observation. Such advances 

 have been made in physical science within the last two hundred years 

 that most of the phenomena which lie, as it were, on the face of nature, 

 have been studied and referred to general principles. In order, there- 

 fore, to make advances, in general physics, at least, apparatus, as well 

 as training in the use of it, is essential to scientific research ; and as but 

 few, comparatively, possess the advantages of these, it rarely happens 

 that investigations of much importance result from the speculations of 

 the kind we have mentioned. In the line of mathematics, however, 

 which requires no extraneous aid, and of natural history, in the study 

 of which objects are everywhere presented, results of importance may 

 be derived from the labors of isolated individuals who have no other 

 assistance than books. 



As a means of adult education, it may be remarked that from the 

 first the Institution has encouraged the establishment of lyceums and 

 scientific associations in all parts of the country, and as the number of 

 these has constantly increased, they have added to our correspondence, 

 and much more largely during the past year than during any one in the 

 history of the Institution. 



Miscellaneous items. — In 1863 Congress incorporated an association, 

 under the name of the National Academy of Sciences, which should inves- 

 tigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science or 

 art on which information might be required by any department of Gov- 

 ernment. Though this society was in no way connected with the Smith- 

 sonian Institution in its inception and organization, yet it is accommo- 

 dated with rooms for its meetings in the Smithsonian building, and com- 

 munications which are adopted by it are accepted for publication by 

 the Institution. 



A series of scientific inquiries has been referred to this society by 

 different departments of Government, and the investigations in regard 

 to them have principally been made under direction of members of the 

 academy in this Institution. The organization of the scientific depart- 

 ment of the North Polar Expedition under Captain Hall was intrusted 

 by Congress to the National Academy, and the procuring of the instru- 

 ments and the organization of the scientific corps were principally 

 effected in connection with the Smithsonian Institution. A copy of 

 the scientific instructions will be found in the appendix to this report. 



In the law organizing the Light-House Board it is declared that it 

 shall consist of two officers of the Army of high grade, two officers of 

 the Navy, and two civilians of scientific reputation, whose services 



