THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 81 



The Board then adjourned to meet on Saturday, 20th inst., at 10 

 o'clock, a. m. 



Washington, Maij 20, 1854. 



An adjourned mreting of the Board of Regents was held on Satur- 

 day, Mtiy 20ih, at 10 o'clock, a. m. 



Present: Messrs. Bache, Choate, Douglas, English, Hawlc}-, Maury, 

 Mason, Meacham, Pearce, Stuart, Totten, nnd the Secretary. 



In the absence of the Chancellor, Mr. Hawley was called to the 

 chair. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 



Mr. Pearce, (jmirmnn of the Special Commiffee* appointed by the Board of 

 Regents oftJte Smithsoimni Institution , to which was referred the resolutions 

 of Hon. Mr. Fitch and Hon. Mr. Meacham relative to the distribution of 

 the income of the Smithsonian fund, etc., made the following report : 



The Committee who were directed to report whether it is desirable 

 to make any changes iu the distribution of the income of the Institution, 

 in the manner contemplated by the original plan of organization, report 

 as follows : 



The distribution and application of the Smithsonian income should 

 be made, so as to answer most effectually and. beneficially the pur- 

 poses for which the Institution was endowed and estabhshed. In 

 making such distribution and application, the Regents should faithfully 

 observe the requirements of the act of Congress establishing the Insti- 

 tution, and exercise no discietion but that which the law allows to 

 them. 



The purpose of the Institution is disclosed in the title of the act, in its 

 preamble, and in its first section. The title is " An act to establish the 

 Smithsonian Institution lor the increase and difl'usion of knowledge 

 among men." The preamble states the bequest, by James Smithson, 

 of all his property to the United States, to found at Washington, under 

 the name of the Smithsonian Institution, " an establishment lor the in- 

 crease and diffusion of knowledge among men." It declares the ac- 

 ceptance of the trust, and "therefore for the faithful execution of the 

 said trust according to tlie will of the liberal and enlightened donor," 

 the first section constitutes an establishment by the name of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution " for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among 

 men." 



The fifth section enacts that the Regents shall cause to be erected 

 " a suitable building of sufficient size, and with suitable rooms or halls 

 for the reception and arrangement, upon a liberal scale, of objects of 

 natural history, including a geological and mineralogical cabinet ; also 

 a chemical laboratory, a library, a gallery of art, and the necessary 



* This committee consisted of the following Regents : Hon. J. A. Pearce, lion. J. M. 

 Mason, Hon. Richard Rush, Hon. John W. Maury, Gen. J. G. Totten, Prof. A D. Bache, 

 and the Hon. J. Meacham. The gentleman last named does not concur in this report. 



6 



