1 34 Memorial of George Broivn Goode. 



promptly and explicitly met. We seize this occasion to assure you of our readiness, 

 our anxious desire, to meet any unfounded report or misrepresentation which may 

 have led to the assertion, that the Institute is unworthy the patronage of the Gov- 

 ernment. We are the more anxious as the assertion seems to have grown out of 

 other considerations than the supposed trifling extent and value of the collections of 

 the Institute. 



The property of the Institute is of two kinds: That which it owns, the result of 

 donations & purchases, and that which it holds by Deposit. The latter kind, by our 

 Charter cannot be withdrawn, even by depositors, till after due notice has been 

 given. The statement which follows, made by Col. Abert & wh. embraces a very 

 inadequate description of the property, embraces gifts, purchases & deposits is taken 

 from the records of the Institute, and it may be verified at any time by reference to the 

 records, an attentive examination of wh. would show that the property of the Insti- 

 tute is of immense value, & of great American as well as general interest; & that it 

 is increasing every day in a wonderful manner — a perusal of the two Bulletins of 

 the proceedings of the Institute wh. have been published will give you the details 

 for two years of these accumulated & accumulating materials, & the unpublished 

 Records wh. go back for two years will supply the rest — Mr. Markoe begs leave to 

 add that the MS. matter wh. accompanied the memorial to Congress, & wh. has 

 happily been placed in your hands, embraces a very condensed view, wh. he pre- 

 pared with great care & toil of all the contributions, donations & deposits which 

 have been made to the Inst, since its foundation in May 1840, up to March 1844, & 

 of the names of the contributors, donors, & depositors. For a refutation of such 

 misstatements we refer you to these exact details, & sincerely hope that Congress 

 will publish them for its own information as well as for the information of the world 

 & as an act of justice to the Institute. 



The collections referred to are in the great hall of the Patent office, at the Treas- 

 ury, War & State Depts., at Col. Abert's ofiice & at the house of the Secretary of the 

 Inst. Besides wh. letters have lately been rec'd. announcing the approach of great 

 quantities of boxes of books, specimens of natural history, & other miscellaneous 

 presents, from for. Govts. Ministers & Consuls of the U. S., from officers of the 

 Army &i. Navy, & from many Societies & individuals both at home & abroad. 



In conclusion, while we invite scrutiny in any shape, we take the liberty of sug- 

 gesting our earnest & anxious wish to meet a committee wh. whenever appointed 

 will find us prepared to explain the character & merits of the Inst. & effectually to 

 defeat unfounded & irresponsible surmises. 



With true regards, Yr. obt. humble svts. 



Francis MarkoE, jr. 

 J. J. Abert. 



Imperfect & hasty statement of the collections & specimens, being either the 

 absolute property of the Institute, or specially deposited under its care. It is 

 believed, that the greater part of these, will eventually become the property of the 

 Institute ; many of them having already become so. 



Minerals— i&t. Alx)ut 6000 miscellaneous specimens from all quarters. 



2d. A complete collection of about 10,000 specimens. 



3d. In addition there are about 190 boxes or collections, not examined or opened. 

 They are spoken of as "boxes" or "collections," because the donors used these 

 terms in their letters presenting them and they are accordingly so entered upon the 

 Journals of the Institute. 



4th. There are also 4 boxes of splendid minerals of Mexico, presented by His 

 Exc. Mr. Tonsel the Minister of War & Marines of Mexico, and one box Mex. 

 Antiquities. 



Fossils. — Upwards of 30 boxes and seven or 8 thousand miscellaneous specimens 

 & casts of rare fossils. 



