THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 159 



Preparation for lecturing. 



The plan of organization contemplates a series of free lectures, par- 

 ticularly during the session of Congress. These will be commenced as 

 soon as the building is ready for the purpose. This part of the plan 

 also cannot be put into full operation until after the building is com- 

 pleted. A number of gentlemen have consented to favor us with their 

 services. Men of talents, however, cannot be expected to leave their 

 homes and subject themselves to the expense of visiting Washington, 

 and to the trouble of preparing a course of lectures, without a proper 

 remuneration. It will be necessary, therefore, that an annual appropri- 

 ation be made for this purpose. The amount, however, must necessa- 

 rily be small until the building is completed, or until all the interest of 

 the fund can be devoted to the primary objects of the Institution. Be- 

 sides this, the lecture-room in the east wing, now finished, will scarcely 

 hold more than five hundred persons, while the one in the main build- 

 ing is intended to accommodate twice as many. 



Donation. 



Dr. Robert Hare, of Philadelphia, having resigned the chair of che- 

 mistry in the University of Pennsylvania, which he had filled with honor 

 to himself and his country for nearly thirty years, has presented to the 

 Smithsonian Institution the instruments of research and illustration 

 collected and used by himself during his long and successful scientific 

 career. Many of these instruments are the invention of the donor, are 

 connected with his reputation, and belong to the history of the science 

 of our day. The gift is important, not only on account of its intrinsic 

 value, but also as establishing a precedent of liberality, which we trust 

 will be frequently observed by others, as well as being an expression of 

 Dr. Hare's approbation of the plan and confidence in the stability of 

 the Institution. A number of other donations have been received, of 

 which a list, with the names of the donors, will be given in a subse- 

 quent report. 



In view of what has been stated in the foregoing report, the Secre- 

 tary trusts that the Board of Regents will be satisfied, if ever they had 

 any doubts on the subject, that the plan adopted is one well calculated 

 to carry out the benevolent intentions of the donor, of increasing and 

 diffusing knowledge among men ; and that a satisfactory answer has 

 been given to the question frequently asked, namely : When is the Insti- 

 tution to begin ? It will be seen that it has commenced the most im- 

 portant part of its operations, and the results are now in progress of 

 dissemination in every part of the civilized world. 

 Respectfully submitted : 



JOSEPH HENRY, 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



