REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 43 



man, senior, presented by his son, and another of General William H. 

 Sumner, presented by George Wood, esq., of this city. 



The Indian gallery belonging to Mr. Stanley still continues on de- 

 posit in the Institution. It is to be feared that by reason of the 

 present condition of the country Congress will not think it advisable to 

 purchase these characteristic illustrations of the aboriginal inhabitants 

 of this continent, and it may perhaps become a subject of considera- 

 tion with the Regents to make some provision for the preservation of 

 the collection in its integrity, since it is possible that the owner may 

 otherwise be obliged to dispose of it in parts, in order to meet his 

 private pecuniary engagements. 



Lectures. — On account of the uncertainty of the times and the pre- 

 occupation of the public mind no arrangements were made to furnish a 

 course of public lectures on the part of the Institution for the winter 

 of 1861- G2; but the use of the lecture-room was granted, in accord- 

 ance with previous custom, to an association consisting principally of 

 persons connected with the several departments of government to 

 give a course of lectures in aid of a benevolent object. The privi- 

 lege was granted, as usual, on the condition definitely expressed, 

 that subjects of sectarianism in religion and special politics should 

 not be discussed. But in this case experience proved that it is inju- 

 dicious to allow the use of the room in times of great public excite- 

 ment for lectures over which the Institution has no immediate control. 



The association could not, or at least did not, observe the restriction 

 as to subjects, and the whole course became an exposition of political 

 principles which were then under public discussion both in the pa- 

 pers of the day and on the floor of Congress. The evil of this was 

 soon manifest in acrimonious attacks upon the Institution by mem- 

 bers of Congress and editors of papers holding different political 

 opinions. It was in vain to attempt to neutralize the effects of 

 these attacks by stating the fact that the Institution ought not to be 

 held responsible for the character of these lectures; the public could 

 not be made to recognize the distinction between the lectures given 

 under the immediate sanction of the Institution and those which were 

 permitted to be delivered in the lecture-room under the direction of 

 other parties. 



Upon these considerations and those mentioned in the last re- 

 port as to the inexpediency of frequently opening the Smithsonian 

 building at night in the present state of this city, I concluded, after 

 the course of political lectures was terminated, to restrict the use of 



