2l8 TlMEHRI. 
The Secretary read a paper by Mr. Nevile Lubbock, 
entitled "Some Notes on the Washington Mission" 
(annexed), for which a vote of thanks was accorded. 
The thanks of the Society were also accorded for the 
following donations : — 
Mr. Nevile Lubbock (for procuring) Catalogue of 
Library of Colonial Institute, and Catalogues of Periodi- 
cals from the Bodleian Library. 
Mr. Claude Francis — Mercantile Register of the United 
States. 
The Governments of British Columbia, Victoria, 
Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales and 
New Zealand — Copies of Mining Laws, Regulations and 
Reports. 
Mr. Nevile Lubbock having kindly offered for accept- 
ance a number of the Proceedings of the Statistical 
Society from 1883 to 1890, the Secretary was directed 
to write to Mr. Lubbock accepting the offer with thanks. 
The meeting then terminated. 
" SOME NOTES ON THE WASHINGTON MISSION." 
Throughout the year 1891, a great deal of interest 
was taken in the possible action of the United States 
Government under Section 3, commonly called the 
Reciprocity clause, of the McKinley Tariff Act. In 
most of the West Indian Colonies it seems to have been 
thought that the West India Committee in London 
would do what was necessary to move the Colonial Office 
to act in good time, should action become necessary. 
The view of the West India Committee in the early part 
of the year was that practically the ability of the Presi- 
dent to take action under the Reciprocity Clause of the 
