PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGENTS. 79 



The Vice President took the chair. 



The minutes were then read and approved. 



The minutes of the last meeting of the "Establishment" were read 

 for information, according to the by-laws of that body. 



The Secretary stated to the Board the action of Congress at its last 

 session relative to the construction of cases in the Smithsonian 

 building for the gov^ernment collections, and also the decision of the 

 Attorney General respecting the law. 



The Secretary then presented the annual report of the operations, 

 expenditures, and condition of the Institution during the year 1857 ; 

 which was read. 



The Board then visited the rooms of the building, the collections, 

 &c., and adjourned. 



Washington, April 10, 1858. 



The Board of Regents met this day at 11 o'clock a. m. 



Present: Hon. J. M. Mason, Hon. S. A. Douglas, Hon. George E. 

 Badger, Hon. Benj. Stanton, Hon. L. *J. Gartrell. 



Mr. Mason was called to the chair. 



The minutes were read and approved. 



The report of the Building Committee for the year 1857 was read 

 and accepted. 



The report of the Executive Committee was presented, together 

 with the estimates for the year 1858. 



Communications relative to the care of the government collections, 

 the Wynn estate, the publications, investigations^ and other opera- 

 tions of the Institution, were read. 



On motion of Mr. Badger, the Secretary was directed to have the 

 windows and other parts of the east wing of the building put in good 

 order. 



The following report from Professor Felton was x)resented : 



REPORT on the PRESENT OF MISS CONTAXAKI. 



The Secretary laid before the Board a volume received from Greece, 

 and sent as a gift to the Smithsonian Institution, together with the 

 letter of the Hon. Mr. Spence, late United States minister to Con- 

 stantinople, to the Secretary of State, and the letter of the Hon. Lewis 

 Cass, the Secretary of State, to Professor Henry, the Secretary of the 

 Institution. The volume and the correspondence were referred to 

 Professor Felton. 



The volume was transmitted from Athens, Greece, through Mr. 



