The PRESIDENT then announced that the ayes were 8 and the noes 13, and that the resolution was lost. Gen. STRACHEY, Delegate of Great Britain, then renewed his resolution, which was as follows: "_Resolved_, That the President be authorized, with the concurrence of the Delegates, to request an expression of the opinions of the gentlemen invited to attend the Congress on any subject on which their opinion may be likely to be valuable." No discussion arose upon this resolution, and it was adopted. Commander SAMPSON, Delegate of the United States, then offered the following resolution: "_Resolved_, That the meetings of this Congress be open to interested visitors." Mr. LEFAIVRE, Delegate of France, stated that he considered this a subject of grave importance; that this was an official and confidential body; scientific, it was true, but also diplomatic; that it was empowered to confer about matters with which the general public have now nothing to do; that to admit the public to the meetings would destroy their privacy and subject the Conference to the influence of an outside pressure which might prove very prejudicial to its proceedings, and that he would object to this resolution absolutely. No further discussion being had, the PRESIDENT, after a _viva voce_ vote of doubtful result, ordered the roll to be called, when the following States voted in the affirmative: Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay, Salvador, Spain. Venezuela, And the following States in the negative. Austria-Hungary, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hawaii, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, San Domingo, Sweden, Switzerland, United States. The PRESIDENT then announced that the ayes were 7 and the noes 14, and that the resolution was therefore lost. The PRESIDENT then said that there would doubtless be some preliminary general discussion on the subject before the Conference, and suggested that if Delegates desired to be heard upon the subject it would be expedient to give an intimation to the Secretary. Prof. ABBE, Delegate of the United States, then said: I have been requested to present to the Conference the communication that I hold in my hand, and in doing so wish to offer the following resolution: "Whereas several persons desire to submit to this Conference inventions, devices, and systems of universal time: therefore, "_Resolved_, That the Conference will acknowledge the receipt of such communications, but will abstain from any expression of opinion as to their respective merits."