We are glad to join the Crimson in some explanatory statement of the condition of affairs relating to the Political Economy department. Through a Harvard letter in a recent number of the Boston Advertiser a rumor was set afloat to the effect that this department of the university was to be weakened both in the number of courses and professors. Owing to financial reasons, our faculty entertained the hope that Prof. Dunbar, on his return next year, would be able to conduct the three course that are now given. President Eliot never shared this hope, and realized that although Prof. Dunbar would be free from all duties connected with the deanship, still he would not be able to give the necessary time to such extended instruction, and to do justice to such important studies. Therefore it can be positively stated that the three regular courses in Political Economy, so popular this year, will be given next year, and will be as ably conducted as it is possible for two competent instructors to do. We regret to say that it is not at all certain that Dr. Laughlin will be one of those instructors. It would certainly be a great misfortune for Harvard to lose such an able instructor.