PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGENTS. 79 



Mr. Pearce was called to the chair. 



The report of the Executive Committee was presented, read and 

 accepted. 



The Secretary announced the re-election by joint resolution of the 

 Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, of Profes- 

 sor Alexander Dallas Bache and Hon. George E. Badger, as Regents 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, for the term of six years. 



The Secretary then presented the annual report of the operations of 

 the Institution for 1858, which was accepted. 



The report of the Executive Committee, presented by Mr. Pearce, 

 was read and accepted. 



The following letter was read to the Board. 



Bremen Legation, 

 JVasJimgton, January 25, 1859. 



Sir : Agreeably to your verbal request, I have proposed to the 

 president and directors of the North German Lloyd of Bremen, to 

 manifest their interest in the cause of science, by facilitating literary 

 intercourse between the United States and Germany, by means of 

 their steamers plying between Bremen and New York. 



It affords me great pleasure now to iaform you that, according to 

 a letter of the president of the Lloyd, dated the 5th instant, and just 

 received, the said Bremen steamship company have resolved, hence- 

 forth, and until further notice, to forward by their steamers all the 

 packages of books and specimens of natural history which the 

 Smithsonian Institution may be pleased to send to Germany, or which 

 may be sent from Germany to the Smithsonian Institution, free of 

 charges hetiueen Neiv York and Bremenhaven. 



I beg leave to add that Messrs. Gelpcke, Keutgen and Reichelt, 84 

 Broadway _, New York, are the agents of the North German Lloyd at 

 that place, and that the next Bremen steamer sailing for Europe will 

 leave New York on the 19th of February next. 



I avail myself of this occasion to offer you renewed assurances of 

 my high consideration. 



R. SCHLEIDEN, 

 Minister llesident of Bremen, 



Professor Joseph Henry, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



On motion of Mr. Mason, the following resolution was adopted by 

 the Board. 



Resolved, That the thanks of this board be returned to his excel- 

 lency, R. Schleiden, minister resident of Bremen, for his interven- 

 tion with the "North German Lloyd of Bremen" to facilitate and 

 advance the cause of science by transporting, free of charge &rc., 

 packages of books, and specimens of natural history, from Germany 



