fi EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



On comparing this statement with that made last January, it appears 

 that the total amount of the fund has been increased during the year 

 $6,683.31, viz : 



By. the Hamilton bequest $1,000 00 



By the increased value of Virginia stock 2, 000 00 



By balance of unexpended annual income 3, 683 31 



\ 683 31 



The Board of Eegents and the Secretary will in future be relieved of 

 all anxiety as to the safety of the semi-annual interest by the arrange- 

 ment which has been made with the United States Treasurer to receive 

 it as a deposit, and to make payments from it on checks of the Secre- 

 tary, in the same manner as has been done heretofore in the First Na- 

 tional Bank. 



The Institution is indebted to General Spinner for his prompt acqui- 

 escence in the proposition and for immediately carrying it out in all the 

 details necessary to facilitate its operation. 



Congress, at its last session, made an appropriation of $20,000 for the 

 care and preservation of the specimens in the museum, and $10,000 for 

 fitting up apartments in which the specimens are exhibited. 



The uncollected coupons on the Virginia bonds held by the Institu- 

 tion were sold on the 9th of May, 1871, by Biggs & Co., with the fol- 

 lowing result : 



$1,200 Virginia coupons at 77£ . . . $925 50 



$2,322 Virginia coupons at 77 1, 787 91 



2, 713 44 

 Less charges 17 61 



$2, 695 83 

 This amount was deposited with the Treasurer of the United States 

 to the credit of the account of the current expenses of the Institution for 

 the year. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



Since the reports of the Institution are separately distributed to many 

 persons, who have not ready access to the whole series, it is necessary 

 in each succeeding one to repeat certain facts which may serve to give 

 an idea of the general organization of the establishment. The following 

 statement is therefore repeated : 



The publications of the Institution are of three classes, viz, the Con- 

 tributions to Knowledge, the Miscellaneous Collections, and 

 the Annual REPORTS. The first consist of memoirs containing positive 

 additions to science resting on original research, and which are gener- 

 ally the result of investigations to which the Institution has, in some 



