REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 47 



I 

 queathed to the Institution, as Mr. King himself informed me, but 



he has lately concluded to present them before his death. A list of 

 the engravings will be found in the appendix to the report of the 

 present year, from which it will be seen that they form an interesting 

 addition to the valuable collection of engravings already belonging 

 to the Institution. 



It was stated in the last report that, in accordance with the policy 

 adopted by the Institution, it would be proper to co-operate with Mr. 

 Corcoran in the liberal and generous enterprise he had undertaken 

 of establishing a free gallery of art in the city of Washington, and 

 to deposit in his collection the specimens which might belong to this 

 establishment, due credit being given to the name of Smithson for 

 all additions of this kind to the gallery in question. The condition 

 of the country has, however, for the present interfered with the prose- 

 cution of the original design of Mr. Corcoran, and the large and ele- 

 gant building which he has erected for carrying out his ideas is now 

 occupied by the government as a depot for military stores. 



Lectures. — On account of the uncertainty as to the amount of in- 

 come of the Institution, and the distraction of the public mind in 

 regard to the war, it has been thought advisable not to make any 

 definite arrangements for the usual course of popular lectures during 

 the season of 1861-62. A few lecturers, however, have lately been 

 engaged, and at least a partial course will be given. 



As stated in previous reports, the lecture-room of the Institution 

 is the most commodious apartment in the District of Columbia for 

 public meetings, and frequent applications are made for its use for 

 lectures and public assemblages not connected with the operations of 

 the Institution. The use of the room has been freely allowed under 

 the following conditions : First. That the object for which it was 

 required should be of a benevolent character, or in some respects in 

 accordance with the general operations of the establishment. Second. 

 That subjects connected with sectarianism in religion, discussions in 

 Congress, and partisan politics should be excluded. Third. That the 

 actual expense of the gas and attendance should be defrayed by the 

 parties who used the room. 



The privileges granted with these restrictions, although, perhaps, 

 of advantage to the city, have been found to be attended with 

 unfavorable results to the Institution. At first the number of appli- 

 cants was small, and principally confined to cases in which the 



