12 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



ber of relics of important events. Here are the Washington relics, 

 transferred in 1883 from the Patent Office, and which include much 

 that is interesting in connection with the domestic and field life of 

 Washington. Among other relics may be mentioned the gifts of for- 

 eign Governments to President Jefferson, Commodore Perry, General 

 Ripley, General Grant, and others ; as well as memorials of many of the 

 Arctic expeditions sent out by the United States and English Gov- 

 ernments during the last forty years, including those in charge of Sir 

 John Franklin, McClintock, Kane, Hall, and De Long. During the 

 year a large number of objects illustrating the history of the Southern 

 Confederacy have been contributed; and it is hoped that the collec- 

 tions to illustrate the participation of the North in the war of the Re- 

 bellion may be similarly increased. 



The arrangement of a collection of coins and medals has been begun, 

 and about 2,000 specimens have already been placed on exhibition. A 

 series of medals illustrating the history of the United States, including 

 bronze copies in duplicate of all the medals that have been struck at 

 the Mint since its organization, has been deposited in the Museum by 

 the Director of the Mint. The coin series is increasing, and progress 

 has been made in classifying and labelling about 2,000 specimens of 

 ancient Greek and Roman coins recently presented to the Museum, and 

 of the numerous foreign medals at various times presented to the 

 Smithsonian Institution. 



A section devoted to the history of transportation was organized un- 

 der the supervision of Mr. J. E. Watkins in 1885. The exhibit, which 

 is at present small, includes the engine ''John Bull" imported from 

 England in 1833 for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and some 

 objects illustrating the beginnings of the American railroad system. 

 The report of Mr. Watkins presented in Part II, contains an exhaustive 

 plan in connection with the development of this section, and it is hoped 

 that it may be practicable to carry it out. 



A collection of some two hundred and fifty scientific instruments, 

 consisting for the most part of apparatus used by Priestley, Henry, and 

 Hare, is temporarily exhibited in the north hall, as well as the original 

 Morse telegraph instrument deposited by Stephen Vail. 



There are included in this department a great many other collections 

 which at present have no organized supervision, and to which additions 

 are not at present specially sought for several reasons. Among these are 

 the collections of musical instruments, modern pottery, and porcelain, 

 lacquer, and the various processes used in the reproductive industries. 

 It is expected that the lithographic and allied exhibits will be shortly 

 developed. 



Four large and valuable tapestries, depicting scenes in the life of 

 Alexander the Great, and executed by Jan Leyniers, a celebrated Flem- 

 ish weaver who was born in 1627 and died in 168G, have been deposited 

 by General P. H. Sheridan. 



