The resignation of Professor Dunbar from active service, to take effect at the end of this year, creates a vacancy that will not easily be filled in those departments over which he has so long and ably presided. His resignation is another notable instance of the losses Harvard has sustained during the past few years in the death or retirement of several of her most eminent professors. Professor Dunbar has long occupied his most important position of senior instructor in political economy, in which science he is well known as a distinguished and original authority, and in his retirement the university suffers a positive loss. The instance becomes all the more important when we consider how little has been done to replace these recent losses. Although the junior professors and instructors are in general competent and thorough in their routine work of instruction, there is an evident need of a presiding authority in several cases who shall direct and advance the work and methods used. Last year several conspicuous additions were made to the classical department, and the example set in this respect might be profitably followed in the other departments where there is perhaps a more urgent necesity for immediate and decided action. With the death of Professor Peirce, succeeded, however, by Professor Byerly, and the retirement of Professors Hedge, Peabody and Dunbar, and the absence of Professors Cooke and Nash, it will be seen that a serious number of vacancies in important departments present themselves for the consideration of the appointing powers.