The Genesis of the United States National Mitscum. 183 



what disposition should finally— and after the powers of the Connnittee in the matter 

 shall have ceased— be made of those rare, rich, and beautiful materials, it remained 

 the undivided opinion of the members of the Committee, I believe, that while those 

 powers and correlative duties existed it was necessary that those materials should 

 continue in the entire control of the Committee. 



This conclusion being come to, the whole subject of the bill, "remarks," etc., 

 was committed to Mr. Tappan, as a subcommittee, with directions to prepare and 

 make report accordingly. 



After this last measure was adopted in Committee I believe the Committee did not 

 meet again ; but it was certainly understood that Mr. Tappan should report to the 

 Senate this result. 



With respect to the doubt which had been raised as to whether all the powers 

 of the Library Committee continued after the 3d of March, I hazard nothing, I 

 believe, in saying that in analogy to the case of certain officers of Congress, those 

 powers were believed by the Committee (on which, as you are aware, there were 

 some professional gentlemen of very high standing) to continue during the recess, 

 and it was in corroboration of that opinion asserted that always since the foundation 

 of the Government the same construction had been put upon the Constitution and 

 the powers of Congress. In conformity with that view I have been required, as 

 chairman of the Joint Committee, to draw, in the name of that Conmiittee, upon the 

 funds subject to its order, for sums of money for books, salaries, compensations, 

 etc., since the close of its last session. How else could the law be executed or 

 justice done? 



I trouble you with this long detail, my dear sir, because of the personal esteem 

 and respect which, I beg leave to say, I entertain for you individually, and because 

 I very sincerely regret that anything should have occurred in this matter tending to 

 wound your feelings or to give you pain. 



As chairman of that most highly respected Committee, whose proceedings have 

 been the subject of comment, it may perhaps be esteemed indelicate in me to have 

 made this exposition without its previous sanction. Please, therefore, consider this 

 letter as intended for yourself alone. 



I remain, with sincere respect, j^ours, 



Wm. Woodbridge. 



NOTE E. 



January 21, 1845. 



Sir : I have the honor of transmitting to you the memorial of the National Insti- 

 tute, drawn up in pursuance of a resolution of the Institute, of the loth of December. 

 And in further obedience to the resolution I have to request that you will do the 

 Institute the favor of presenting the memorial to the consideration of the Senate and 

 House of Representatives. 



The papers herewith, and which constitute the memorial, are: 



( 1 ) The memorial as directed by the resolution. 



(2) The resolution under which the committee acted. 



(3) The memorial of the scientific men at their meeting in Washington during 

 last April. 



(4) The memorial of the Institute, of March, 1844. 



J. J. Abert. 

 Honorable Mr. Woodbridge, 



Ihtitcd States Senate. 

 Honorable J. Q. ADAMS, 



House of Represetitatives, 



