REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 43 



lectures, it is evident, from the interest which they still continue to 

 excite, must tend to promote the intelligence and morality of the citi- 

 zens, and the various scientific operations which are carried on in 

 connexion with the Institution diversify the objects of interest to the 

 public generally in what pertains to the national metropolis. The 

 following is a list of the lectures delivered at the Institution during 

 the winter of 1858-59 : 



Two lectures by Dr. John Rae, of Canada, on " Arctic Explorations 

 and the Probable Fate of Sir John Franklin." 



One lecture by J. G. Saxe, esq., of Vermont, on "Poetry and 

 Poets." 



One lecture by Professor G-. W. Greene, of New York, on " The 

 Artistic Life of Thomas Crawford." 



One lecture by Professor J. D. Dana, of Yale College, on " Coral 

 Islands." 



Two lectures by Thomas Clemson, esq., of Maryland, on " Water " 

 and "Nitrogen." 



Two lectures by Professor P. A. Chadbourne, of Williams College, 

 on " Natural History as related to Intellect, Taste, and Wealth." 



Four lectures by Rev. H. J. Comingo, of Ohio, on "Rome, its His- 

 torical Reminiscences ; its Antiquities and Ruins ; its Architectural 

 Monuments ; its Fine Arts." 



Four lectures by Professor A. Caswell, of Brown University, on 

 " The Magnitude and Figure of the Earth;" " The Law of Gravita- 

 tion;" " The Dimensions of the Solar System, or the Extent of our 

 Knowledge of Planetary Distances ;" and " Sidereal Astronomy." 



Five lectures by Professor J. P. Cook, of Harvard College, on 

 "Atmospheric Air," "Oxygen and Ozone," "Nitrogen," "Water," 

 "Carbon," &c, &c. 



The lectures of Professor Caswell will be inserted in the Appendix 

 to this report, and, it is believed, will be found interesting to the 

 teacher, as well as to the general reader, on account of the informa- 

 tion given relative to many points not usually dwelt upon in popular 

 works on the subject. 



Respectfully submitted. 



JOSEPH HENRY. 



