The President's Report.

The report of President Eliot for 1889-90 to the Board of Overseers contains the usual full account of all the University activities for the year and summarizes, besides commenting on, the additional reports which accompany it submitted to the President by the heads of all the departments.

The President speaks first of changes in the administrative boards and passes next to the new statutes recently put into effect through the dissolution of the Faculty of Harvard College and of the Scientific School, and the organization of the single Faculty of Arts and Sciences to have charge of the college, the Scientific School and the graduate School, as well as the delegation of Faculty powers to sub-administrative boards.

A study is made of the schools and colleges which feed Harvard. The number of public schools is certainly increasing, and in 1890 "no fewer than 122 schools and colleges contributed the 348 persons who entered from schools and other colleges." The largest number sent by a school was 28 and only seven schools sent more than 10 pupils. In 1890 also 48 colleges and universities supplied 63 students.

The average age of freshmen is still too high and remains at nineteen years, at which point it has remained for 10 years in spite of the efforts of the authorities to reduce it.

The re-organization of the Annual Announcement of Instruction as perfected last year is mentioned. The changes result in a better departmental organization. There is unity in each department and the relations with the large Faculty are at the same time promoted. This development of departmental authority and activity gives assurance that the organization of separate degree-giving schools of particular arts or sciences, as in vogue at other colleges, will not be needed at Harvard. The central Faculty, freed by its subordinate boards from the charge of administrative details, will be able to treat wisely and efficiently, with the help of its departmental and other standing committees, the fundamental questions of admission, residence, instruction, aids and honors, examinations and degrees, in the best interests of the body of students soon to be numbered by thousands.

The attention always given to the development of the arts of writing and speaking among undergraduates is discussed. Care has been taken to foster the courses in English composition, the writing of theses and the criticism involved by seminary and conference methods.

The number of persons who take second year and final honors does not increase, but diminishes relatively to the number of students. The natural inference is that very few students wish to specialize, or that the requirements for honors are unreasonable. Even in the Faculty there are two opinions as to the advisability of seeking honors except by young men who intend to teach.

The number of special students does not increase, the practice of the Faculty committee being to reject candidates not recommended for admission by their former teachers.

In athletic sports two important improvements have been made in the selection and management of the "teams." 1. None but bona fide members of the University taking a full year's work, and none but amateurs by the accepted definition, were allowed to represent the University. 2. Freshmen were defined to be first-year students, regular or special of the College or Scientific School. Moreover, improvement has been made in medical supervision of the teams and in the financial management. The probability is that with good management every sport can be made self-supporting except in the case of extraordinary expenses.

The equipment of the Weld Boat House and the acceptance of the Soldier's Field are recorded. The University now owns on the south side of the Charles River 21 acres of upland and 93 acres of marsh with frontage on North Harvard St. and right of way to Western Avenue. The only restriction is as to building on Mr. Longfellow's gift.

A new dormitory is recommended containing a large number of rooms well finished and fitted up which could be let for $50 a year. There are now but few room accommodations for such men as use the Foxcroft for their meals.

The Lawrence Scientific School is more flourishing than it has ever been before since its foundation in 1847. Two new endowed professorships are needed, one in the theory and practice of motors and machinery and one in architecture. The first would reinforce the departments of physics, mathematics, and engineering; the second would assist work in archaeology, history, belles lettres and particularly the history of the fine arts.

The Graduate School is flourishing. Henceforth, as a rule, appointments to foreign fellowships will not be renewed more than once.

The Divinity School, with a larger income, has had two successive annual deficits. Additional endowment is needed.

The Law School has reaped the benefit of an additional income by increased opportunities for instruction. The average age of college graduates when admitted is 23, of non-graduates 22. The proportion of Harvard B. A's. is increasing; graduates of other colleges and non-graduates are diminishing in number. The practice of doing three years' work in two is dying out.

At the Medical School the most important event has been the completion of the laboratories of pathology and bacteriology. They were ready just when the Koch excitement arose. But the laboratories are not endowed, there is no professorship of bacteriology and the School needs money.

The Dental School has undergone a few changes in Faculty and in requirements for admission and study.

The Bussey Institution has lived within its income and has been of material help to Professor Goodale in supplying flowers for the classes in Cambridge. The investments of the Bussey Trust in Boston real estate have gone down from $17,155 in 1874 to $8,873.

The Veterinary School and Hospital have enjoyed their most prosperous year. They need new instructors, and, from the University point of view, it is desirable that the school should be a place of research as well as of instruction. For this an endowment of $100,000 is needed.

The Library wants more money and a new library is, excepting the endowment of permanent professorships, the most urgent need of the University.

The Herbarium has been particularly fortunate in receiving money and gifts. The Botanical Gardens have been actively used and the Museum of Economic Botany is being prepared for the public. At the Arnold Aboretum, but little progress has been made during the year owing to retarding circumstances.

The Chemical and Physical Laboratories are active. An effort was made by Mr. Francis Blake to secure a fund of $100,000 to endow research in the Physical Laboratory. The disturbance of commercial credit in the autumn of 1890 arrested it.

At the Observatory the danger of destruction by fire still exists. Books, manuscripts and 27,000 photographic plates, are in jeopardy.

The University museum now has accommodations for botanical and mineralogical work for many years to come. The Zoological Museum is, however, crippled for lack of money.

The Peabody Museum has passed through the period of isolation which it has had to undergo as a product of private endowment through the beneficence of Mrs. Thaw. The Semitic Museum contains an interesting nucleus for a valuable collection. Five thousand dollars have been spent on books, manuscripts, inscriptions, photographs, casts, coins, electrotypes, impressions of seals and tablets, etc.

The report concludes with a few details concerning the summer courses, the quinquennial catalogue, the suffrage for Overseers, etc.