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It is impossible to make a very definite estimate of the expenditures on account of the museum, during the year 1858, because the

collection at the Patent Office is to be transferred to the keeping of the Institution, and the amount of expenditures under this head will depend upon the appropriation made by Congress for this purpose.

In conclusion, the committee report that they have examined the books, and each account for the past year, separately, and find them all correct.

Respectfully submitted.

J. A. PEARCE,

A. D. BACHE,
JOS. G. TOTTEN,
Executive Committee.

REPORT OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE.

The building of the Smithsonian Institution having been completed, the special object of the Building Committee for which it was originally appointed, might be considered accomplished, and therefore an annual report no longer necessary; but as a large portion of the edifice remained unfinished, and since repairs are required which will probably be very expensive, it is thought proper that the committee should be continued.

At the last session of Congress an appropriation of fifteen thousand dollars was made for cases for the accommodation of the collections belonging to government. These are now finished and form a beautiful addition to the large hall, and are apparently well adapted to the purpose for which they are intended. With strict economy the appropriation of Congress has been found sufficient to provide accommodations for the present reception of the articles, though in the course of time additional cases will be required.

The west wing of the building, devoted to the library, has been furnished with alcoves and a gallery extending around three sides of the large room. This arrangement, which will serve very much to increase the accommodation and security of the books, produces à very pleasing architectural effect.

The large cisterns in the grounds near the building, which were directed to be arched over at the last session of the Board, have been properly secured, and one of them converted into an ice-house.

The balance of a bill for gas fixtures, which had been contracted by the architect, and which remained unsettled, on account of a disagreement as to certain charges, has been finally paid, after a reduction of $352 99.

The peculiar style of architecture of the building, and the large amount of surface it exposes to the weather, renders constant repairs necessary. During the past year almost the whole time of two workmen has been occupied in this service.

Respectfully submitted.

RICHARD RUSH,

WM. H. ENGLISH,
JOSEPH HENRY,

Building Committee.

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

BOARD OF REGENTS

OF

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1857.

A meeting of the Board of Regents was held this day at 11 o'clock

a. m.

Present: Hon. R. B. Taney, Chancellor, Hon. John C. Breckinridge, James M. Mason, S. A. Douglas, Gen. Jos. G. Totten, Prof. A. D. Bache, Wm. B. Magruder, and the Secretary.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

The Chancellor, Chief Justice Taney, then presented the following communication:

WASHINGTON, March 16, 1857. GENTLEMEN: When the Board of Regents was originally organized it was deemed proper that the Vice President of the United States for the time being should be elected as the Chancellor. The Institution exists under the authority of Congress, and they have made certain officers of the government ex officio Regents. The Vice President is the highest in rank of the officers thus designated; and it would seem to be peculiarly proper that the one who presides over the deliberations of one branch of the national legislature should also preside over the deliberations of a scientific institution which the nation has brought into existence and fosters.

Unfortunate events have for some time past left the government without a Vice President elected by the people. And when that office was vacant the Regents conferred on me the office which had always before been filled by the Vice President. And when I accepted it I regarded the appointment as a temporary one. The reason for the appointment has now happily ceased, and I desire to give the Regents

an opportunity of restoring the original plan of organization, in which I fully concurred when it was adopted.

I therefore resign the office of Chancellor of the Institution, and at the same time return my thanks for the honor which the Regents bestowed upon me in electing me to that office.

But my resignation will not lessen the interest I feel in the Institution. On the contrary, every year's experience has more and more convinced me of its usefulness and efficiency in promoting the objects of its founder, and I shall always be ready to offer my humble aid if I can be useful in advancing its prosperity and success.

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your obedient servant,

To the REGENTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

R. B. TANEY.

Mr. Breckinridge, Vice President of the United States, moved that the present Chancellor, Chief Justice Taney, be re-elected to that office, expressing his unwillingness to assume the position which had been so long and so ably filled by its present occupant.

The motion was adopted unanimously, whereupon Judge Taney remarked that he was anxious to serve the Institution to the best of his ability, and he could not decline this expression of the confidence of the Board if they insisted on his retaining the office of Chancellor.

The Secretary announced that, by joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives, Hon. Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania, and Gen. Joseph G. Totten, of the city of Washington, had been re-elected Regents for six years; also that the President of the Senate had reappointed Hon. James A. Pearce and Hon. James M. Mason, Regents for the same period of time.

The Secretary announced to the Board that, since its last meeting, three distinguished men of science, correspondents of the Institution, had deceased, namely: Prof. J. W. BAILEY, Dr. E. K. KANE, and Mr. W. C. REDFIELD.

On this announcement Prof. Bache offered a series of appropriate remarks, referring to their eminent services in the promotion of science.

Gen. Totten offered the following resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved, That the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution have heard with regret the announcement of the death of Prof. JACOB W. BAILEY, whose communications to the Smithsonian Contributions have

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