President Eliot's Report.

The President's report to the Board of Overseers for the year 1891-92 was published yesterday morning. With it are printed the reports of the several departments and the annual statement of the Treasurer.

The President first announces the deaths of John O. Sargent, Professor Joseph Lovering, and Dr. Sereno Watson.

A few pages are then devoted to the changes in the corps of instructors in the past years, and the qualifications necessary for a good teacher. There is next given a sketch of the proposed changes in the methods of securing degrees and of the changes in the standards of admission to the professional schools and to the college, Since the present scheme of requirement for admission was adopted 148 men have entered college without Greek. Their work has been well above the average.

The Price Greenleaf aid was the first beneficiary aid assigned to men during their first year at college. This fund yields an annual income of about $17,000. The present system of making the appointments, although for the most part satisfactory, has not had the best of results.

There is then given a short account of the work of each of the departments, but the matter is in no case the same as that spoken of in the official reports of the departments.

The rapid growth of the Scientific School still continues. The Rotch Electrical Laboratory and the Laboratory of Anatomy, Physiology and Physical Training were both completed in 1891-92. As is necessary in a professional school the studies are divided into groups rather than offered as electives. Seven groups, each extending over four years, are now offered. The degree of Bachelor of Science represents considerably more labor during the four years of the course than the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

The Graduate Scoool has gained in numbers during the past year but has gained even more in quality than in quantity. The Dean of the School recommends that all time limits, except that by which no one shall be recommended for a degree until after one year of residence, upon the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science, be abolished.

The Dean of the Divinity School calls attention to the fact that of the forty students at the school in 1891-92 only fifteen remain for 1892-93. The greatest need of the school is professors representing different systems of theology, since no man can be properly trained as a denominational minister merely by general instruction in theology.

The number of students at the Law School has increased from 285 in 1890-91 to 870 in 1891-92. During the last year the faculty has been increased by the appointment of one professor and one assistant professor, and one new lecturer has been engaged. The reading room has been enlarged and thirty-eight desks have been added. The surplus of the school last year was well over $10,000. The Bemis fund of 50,845 has become available during the year.

In the Medical School several new instructors have been appointed during 1891-92. The Dean in his report calls attention to the fact that the proportion of college bred men entering the Medical School has decreased very much since 1886. It is not easy to understand the reason of this change but it is probable that the prolongation of the period of professional study has necessarily led to a corresponding shortening of the time heretofore allotted to college training.

The Dental School suffers much from the lack of a proper building, and a committee is now at work securing subscriptions for the erection of new quarters. Several instructors have been appointed in the past year. The endowment of the School is now a little more than $20,000.

In 1891-92 the Bussey Institution had the largest number of students since 1871-72. The gain, however, has not been maintained this year. As usual the Institution has sent a large supply of flowers for the classes in botany at Cambridge.

The faculty of the Veterinary. School has been much strengthened in the past year. The principal need of this department is a larger hospital and an endowment to enable it do gratuitous work.

The report of the Librarian this year contains the report of the Curator of Coins. The collection consists of 1161 ancient and 1739 modern coins. The need of new accommodations for the books and of a new reading room is spoken of. For several years past Gore Hall has been heated by steam from boilers in University Hall.

On the death of Dr. Watson, Dr. Benjamin Robinson was appointed Curator of the Herbarium and Mr. Henry Seaton was appointed Assistant Curator. The income of the Herbarium has lately been largely increased. It is suggested that as the Botanic Garden is open to the public, the city of Cambridge should share the expenses of its management.

Considerable expenditure was made on Boylston Hall during the year. A new laboratory for organic chemistry was built on the third floor, and the large room formerly occupied by the mineralogical cabinet on the second floor was converted into a lecture room seating about 500 persons. The principal fault of the building is that it is not wholly fireproof.

The reports of the work of the Jefferson Physical Laboratory, the Astronomical Station at Arequipa, Peru, and the museums all are favorable, showing large increases in the number of students and satisfactory results in every way.

A new office, that of Publication Agent, has been created during the year. The agent has the charge of editing and printing all the reports, announcements, and other official documents of the university. During the current year he will have the general charge of the exhibition to be made by the University at the Chicago Fair.

The Treasurer's statement shows that gifts made the University during the year 1891-92 amounted to $516,532.20. The corporation's investments in real estate have been increased by nearly $1,000,000 while other investments have been correspondingly decreased. All departments of the University had surpluses except the University, College and Library departments, and the Veterinary School.