76 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



On motion of Mr. Rush, Mr. John T. Towers was elected to till the 

 vacancy in the Building Committee. 



The report of" the Executive Committee, making estimates of appro- 

 priations for the year 1855, &c., was then taken up and adopted. 



On motion of General Totten, the following resolution was adopted : 



Resolved, That in case the sum required lor the completion of the 

 Smithsonian building should exceed the amount appropriated for the 

 same, that the Building Committee have authority to pay for any una- 

 voidable excess out of funds on deposit to the credit ot" the Institution. 



The report of" the Building Committee was then read, and on motion 

 adopted. 



A memorial and printed pamphlet from John Lord, of Portland, 

 Maine, was read and ordered to lie on the table. 



The Board then adjourned to meet on Saturday, January 27, at ten 

 o'clock a. m. 



Washington, January 27, 1855. 



An adjourned meeting of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution was held on Saturday, January 27, 1855, in the regents' room. 



Present: The Chancellor, Roger B. Taney, Messrs. Bache, Pearce, 

 Stuart, Towers, Totten. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 



The following communication was read: 



House of Representatives, 



Washington, January 26, 1855. 



Sir: I am instructed by the special committee of the House of Re- 

 presentatives, raised in conformity with the accompanying resolution, 

 to request you to inform the Boartl of Regents of" the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution that the committee is ready to proceed to the discharge of its 

 duties — and that any communication the Board may think proper to 

 make will be most respectfully entertained. 



The committee will meet on Thursday, February 1, at half past 7 

 o'clock, p. m., in the rooms of the Hon. W. H. Wittee, at the National 

 Hotel. 



The presence of an authorized representation of the Board, during the 

 investigation of the matters referred to the committee, would aid us in 

 the performance of the duty imposed by the order of the House of 

 Representatives. 



Very lespectfully, your obedient servant, 



CHARLES W. UPHAM, Chairman. 



Professor Jos. Henry, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Iiifilltution. 



Copy of resolution of House enclosed. 



In the House of Representatives U. S. — January J 7, 1855. 



On motion of Mr^ Meacham, 

 Resolved, That the letter of Hon. Rut"us Choate, resigning his place 

 as Regent of the Smithsonian Institution, be referred to a select com- 

 mittee of five, and printed ; and that said committee be directed to 



