78, EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



and expenditures of the Institution, during the 3'ear 1853, was pre- 

 sented by the Chairman, Mr. Pearce. 



On motion of Mr. Mason, the report was accepted. 



The Committee to which was referred the resolution of Mr. Fitch, 

 offered at the last session, and also the resolution offered by Mr. 

 Meacham, at the meeting of the Board, January 28, 1854, reported the 

 following resolution, and stated that a full report on the general subject 

 would be made hereafter : 



Resolved, That the Executive Committee nnd the Secretary of the 

 Institution be instructed to submit to the Board of Regents, at the com- 

 mencement of each and every year, an estimate, in detail, of all sums 

 which will be required for the expenditures of the current year, as a 

 basis for specific appropriations to be made by the Board. 



On motion, the resolution was adopted. 



The Secretary stated to the Board that a memorial and resolution, 

 relative to funding $150,000 in the Treasury of the United States, had 

 been submitted by Hon. Joseph R. Chandler to the House of Repre- 

 sentatives, and had been referred to the Committee previously ap- 

 pointed by the House to consider the expediency of withdrawing the 

 Smithsonian fund from the Treasur}'' of the United States and investing 

 it in some safe stock. 



The Special Committee to which was referred the subject of pay- 

 ment to Gilbert Cameron of the money due him which had been kept 

 back on account of a lawsuit between him and one of the sub-con- 

 tractors, reported that they had " examined the question referred to 

 them, and were of the opinion that the balance dfie Gilbert Cameron 

 should be paid to him, and direct accordingly." 



The Secretary stated that, in accordance with this cUrection, he had 

 paid Mr. Cameron $10,000, but had reserved a part of the money until 

 the account could be critically examined. 



A memorial from the American Philosophical Society to the Congress 

 of the United States, praying "that the President of the United States 

 should be authorized to enter into such correspondence with the gov- 

 ernment of Great Britain as may secure, in a reasonable time, a proper 

 uniformity of coinage in the mode that may be found most discreet 

 and convenient," was laid before thf Board for its co-operation and 

 approval. 



On motion of Mr. Mason, the subject was referred to the Executive 

 Committee. 



A communication was read fiom Mr. J. R. Lambdin, President of 

 the American Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, recommending that 

 the Smithsonian Institution should procure moulds from the best and 

 most useful specimens of the collection in the British Museum, known 

 as the Elgin Marbles, and that from these moulds, casts should be pro- 

 duced and sold at cost to such academies of art, &c., as ma}' desire 

 their possession. 



On motion of Mr. Mason, this subject was referred to the Executive 

 Committee. 



The continuation of the Report of the Secretary in relation to the 

 Museum, Exchanges, &c., was read. 



The Board then adjourned to meet at the call of the Secretary. 



