THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 25 



paration oi a catalogue of its library on the Smithsonian plan proposed 

 by Professor Jewett. This work has been successfully prosecuted 

 since July last ; and according to Professor Jevvett's report, upwards 

 of 6,000 volumes have been catalogued. This plan, the honor of the 

 invention of which the Convention of Librarians has awarded to Profes- 

 sor Jewett, and which has been received with approbation by those 

 well qualified to judge of its merits, is now in a fair way to be reduced 

 to practice. The objects to be gained by adopting it are — 



1. To avoid the necessity of preparing, composing, and correcting 

 anew the titles once printed, when the library has received accessions ; 

 or the alternative of printing the titles of these accessions in supple- 

 ments, which are very inconvenient appendages. 



2. To prevent the repetition of the work of preparation of titles, 

 composition, and correction of press, for copies ol the same book in 

 different libraries. The title once prepared and stereotyped remains at 

 the Smithsonian Institution, to be used by any library having the same 

 book. 



3. To secure uniformity in the construction of catalogues, thus greatly 

 facilitating the researches of the student. 



For other facts and details, see Professor Jewett's report herewith 

 submitted. 



Lectures. — Lectures have been given as usual by a number of dis- 

 tinguished gentlemen on the following subjects; 



A course of eight lectures by Dr. Robert Baird on " Modern Eu- 

 rope." 



One lecture by Hon. Henry Barnard on " The School." 



One lecture by Professor Stephen Alexander, of the College of New 

 Jersey, on " Climate." 



One lecture by Job R. Tyson, esq., of Philadelphia, " Patrick 

 Henry." 



One lecture by Rev. C. C. Pise, " Charles Carrol, of Carrol- 

 ton." 



One lecture by Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. N., " On the New Expedition 

 in search of Sir John Franklin." 



A course of five lectures by Professor A. Guyot on " The Harmo- 

 nies of Nature and History." 



A course of seven lectures by Dr. J. B. C. Smith, of Boston, on 

 " Modern Egypt and its Institutions." 



One lecture by George Sumner, esq., on " France." 



Lectures were also delivered during the season, in the Smithsonian 

 lecture room, to the Washington Young Men's Christian Association, 

 Metropolitan Mechanics' Institute, and the Teacher's Association. 



We have concluded to adopt the plan of a continued course on a 

 single subject extending through the entire session ; and for this pur- 

 pose Professor J. Lawrence Smith, of the University of Virginia, has 

 been engaged to give a full course on chemistry during the present 

 winter. 



Meeting of the Establishment. — The Secretary was directed by the 

 President of the United States to call a meeting of the members and 



