102 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



The stated annual meeting of the Smithsonian Institution was held 

 this da}^ May 2, 1854, at the hall of the Institution at 12 o'clock, m. 



Present: Franklin Pierce, President of the United States; Hon. Wm. 

 L. Marcy, Secretary of State; Hon. James Guthrie, Secretary of the 

 Treasury; Hon. Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War; Hon. James C. 

 Dobbin, Secretary of the Navy; Hon. Caleb Gushing, Attorney Gene- 

 ral; Hon. John W. Maury, Mayor of the city; Professor Robert Hare, 

 honorary member; Professor Joseph Henry, Secretary of the Institution. 



The President took tlie chair. 



The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and approved. 



On motion of Hon. Mr. Guthrie, the Institution proceeded to nomi- 

 nate candidates for election as honorary members. 



Dr. Hare made some remarks respecting his apparatus, and the con- 

 ditions on which it was presented to the Institution. 



The Secretary explained the cause of the delay in completing the 

 repairs, and in the proposed exhibition of the apparatus. This had 

 been mainly due to an accident wliich happened to the building. A 

 part of the interior gave way, and the Regents directed that the whole 

 wood-wot k of the main building should be removed, and its place sup- 

 plied with fire-proof materials. To meet the additional expense of this 

 necessary change in the plan, the time of completing the edifice was 

 extended, and funds which would have been devoted to otiier purposes 

 were consequently given to this object. The building will, however, 

 be completed in the course of the present year ; a spacious room is 

 now nearly ready to receive the apparatus, and due diligence on the 

 part of the Institution will be made to finish the repairs of the articles, 

 of which a considerable portion are now completed. 



On motion the Institution then adjourned to the first Tuesday in June 

 next (6lh proximo.) 



Washington, June 6, 1854. 



An adjourned meeting of the Smithsonian Institution was held this 

 day, June 6, 1854, in the hall of the Institution, at 12 o'clock, m. 



Present: Hon. Wm. L. Marcy, Secretary of State; Hon. James 

 Guthrie, Secretary of the Treasury; Hon. Caleb Gushing, Attorney 

 General; Hon. Charles Mason, Commissioner of Patents; Prof. Joseph 

 Henry, Secretary of the Institution. 



There not being a legal quorum present, on motion of Mr. Gushing 

 the Institution adjourned to meet on Saturday, July 15, 1854, at 12 

 o'clock, m. 



Washington, July 15, 1854. 



An adjourned meeting of the Smithsonian Institution was held this 

 day, July 15, 1854, in the hall of the Institution, at 12 o'clock, m. 



Present : Franklin Pierce, President of the United States ; Hon. 

 Wm. L. Marcy, Seci'ctary of State ; Hon. James Guthrie, Secretary of 



