io6 Memorial of George Brown Goode. 



auspices of the Institution, and also recommended an extensive S3'Stem 

 of exchange of specimens for the benefit of the museum. 



At the meeting of September 12, 1842, Mr. Poinsett, the president, 

 proposed a series of resolutions ' intended to put the recommendation of 

 the report into effect. 



All of these resolutions and reports were issued in the form of circulars 

 (October 15, 1842, and February 24, 1843), but the appeals "to the lib- 

 erality and public spirit of our countrymen' ' were without avail. 



Consequently a special meeting of the board of management was held 

 December 23, 1843, at the office of the Secretary of State. That the 

 society was regarded at that time as one of national importance is shown 

 by the presence at the meeting of Mr. Upshur, the Secretary of State, 

 who took an active part in the proceedings; the Hon. John Quincy 

 Adams, who presided; Senator Levi Woodbury, late Secretary of the 

 Treasury, who agreed to represent the meeting in Congress; the Hon. 

 J. R. Ingersoll, who acted as secretary, and who wrote out in his pream- 

 ble to the minutes of the meeting a forcible statement of the needs of the 

 society; the Hon. C. J. Ingersoll, Senator R. J. Walker, besides Colonel 

 Peter Force, Colonel Abert, Colonel Totten, Lieutenant Maury, and the 

 officers of the society. 



The issue of this meeting was the decision ' ' to memorialize Congress 

 on the subject of the condition and wants of the Institute." 



tion of the remarks addressed to the Institute by the Hon. Mr. Preston, Senator from 

 South Carolina, on the evening of the 13th of June last. 



They also propose to address circulars to prominent individuals in the different 

 States, inviting their cooperation, particularly in receiving and transmitting con- 

 tributions. 



They recommend that the Institute authorize the president and secretaries to 

 sanction their circulars by their official signatures. 



They propose that a meeting of the learned men of our country, distinguished for 

 their attainments in the different sciences, particularly in those termed physical, 

 should be held annually at the seat of the General Government, at some early period 

 of the session of Congress, under the auspices of the Institute, to communicate the 

 results of their inquiries, to compare their observations, and to promote the general 

 interests of science. It has seemed to the committee that this Institute affords an 

 opportunity, which ought not to be neglected, of concentrating the genius and 

 learning of our country at a common center, from which the beams of intelligence 

 will radiate to gladden and bless the land. 



They recommend that, in addition to the powers already conferred, the committee 

 be authorized to make arrangements for such a meeting, at a day as early as may be 

 found practicable, and to invite the attendance of those who may desire to partici- 

 pate in its proceedings. 



They think that a system of exchanges of mineral and geological specimens, and 

 perhaps of other articles, with the private and public collections in different parts of 

 the Union, may be established with reciprocal advantage ; and that the museum of 

 this Institute may, by these and other means, be enabled in time to exhibit the 

 various treasures of our different soils ; and they would suggest the appointment of 

 a committee to whom this subject should be given specially in charge. (Proceed- 

 ings of the National Institute, 3d Bull., p. 335.) 



' Proceedings of the National Institute, 3d Bull., p. 336. 



