JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 127 



On motion of Professor Copp<So, the report was adopted. 



The Secretary stated that the "Memorial of the Board of Eegeuts," 

 relative to the new building for tbe National Museum, had been presented 

 to Congress, and that a bill in accordance with it had passed the Senate, 

 without objection, but it had been presented so late in the session that 

 favorable action could not b6 obtained in the House of Eepresentatives. 

 A renewed effort would be made this session to accomplish the desired 

 object. Several of the Eegents expressed the opinion that the bill would 

 be passed at an early day. 



The Secretary presented to the Board a miniature likeness of James 

 Smithson, founder of the Institution, and also one of Col. Henry Dick- 

 inson, his half brother, which had been purchased from Mons. de la Batut, 

 of Belz, France, a half brother of the nephew of Smithson, who parted 

 with them on account of pecuniary need and his desire that the Insti- 

 tution should possess them. Mr. de la Batut had also presented to the 

 Institution a number of notes addressed to Smithson by Oersted, Arago, 

 Biot, Tennant, Klaproth, and other distinguished scientific men of his 

 time, showing his intimate association with them ; also a draught, in 

 Smithson's handwriting, of his will, differing in one very slight particular 

 from the will as presented to the United States by the English Court. 



Professor Henry gave an account of what had been received of the 

 personal effects of Smithson, and stated that nearly all these had been 

 destroyed in the fire at the Institution in 1865. He advised the repub- 

 lication, in a suitable form, of all the scientific papers of Smithson. 



On motion of Dr. Maclean it was — 



Resolved, That the Secretary be requested to have a memoir of James 

 Smithson prepared and published, to include all his scientific papers 

 now accessible. 



On motion of Dr. Coppde it was — 



Resolved, That the Secretary prepare and publish a history of the 

 origin and progress of the Institution. 



On motion of Dr. Copp(5e the Board adjourned to meet on Saturday, 

 26th instant, at 7 o'clock p. m. 



January 26, 1878. 



A meeting of the Board of Eegents was held this day at 7 p. m., in 

 the oflQce of the Secretary. 



Present, Chief-Justice Waite, Chancellor ; Hon. E. E. Withers, Hon. 

 James A. Garfield, Hon. George Bancroft, Hon Peter Parker, Dr. Asa 

 Gray, Dr. Henry Copp6e, and Professor Henry, Secretary. 



Excuses for non-attendance were received from Messrs. Wheeler, Ham- 

 lin, Sargent, Stephens, Clymer, Maclean, and Porter. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read and api)roved. 



Professor Henry presented his annual report of the operations of the 

 Institution for the year 1877, which was read in full. 



On motion of Hon. James A. Garfield the report was accepted, and 

 the Secretary directed to transmit it to Congress. 



