The Ge7icsis of tlie United States National Museum. 191 



ment of its ineinbers. It merely seeks means to secure the property cominj^ into its 

 custody from time to time so that it may not be injured or lost, and so that it may 

 be exhibited and used by the public, as it is dedicated to the public, and the title to 

 it is intended to be in the Government. 



For want of pecuniary means all our collections, whether in possession or increas- 

 ing by new additions weekly, are in jeopardy; and unless Congress interfere to save 

 what is so public in its character, and so peculiarly under its guardianship as is the 

 encouragement of matters of this kind within this District, subject to its exclusive 

 legislation, the prospect is that the operations of the Institute must of necessity 

 cease and the property be abandoned. 



Deprecating, as we do, an event so unfortunate for the cause of science and the 

 arts, not only here, but from here in some degree over the whole Union, and not a 

 little disreputable to our character abroad, the undersigned would earnestly pray 

 that Congress, at an early date, may avert the calamity by taking steps to aid effi- 

 ciently in preserving this important public property ; and the more especially do we 

 ask this, when, for various reasons, it can be done at moderate expense and in entire 

 conformity to the provisions of the Constitution. 



The undersigned respectfully refer to the documents annexed, which exhibit the 

 character of the Institute and the course of its proceedings. 



IvEvi Woodbury, President, 

 PETER Force, Vice-President, 

 Francis M arkoE, Jr. , Corresponding Secretary, 

 G. W. RiGGS, Jr., Treasurer, 

 Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, 

 J. J. AberT, Topographical Engineers, 

 J. G. ToTTEN, Engineer Corps, 

 M. F. Maury, U. S. Navy, 

 A. O. Dayton, Fourth Auditor, 



Directors. 

 Washington, December 16, 1S45. 



I.IST OF DOCUMENTS ACCOMPANYING THE ABOVE MEMORIAl,. 



First Bulletin of the Proceedings of the National Institution for the Promotion of 

 Science, established at Washington, 1840: Washington, 1841. 



Second Bulletin, etc., March, 1841, to February, 1842 : Washington, 1842. 



Third Bulletin, etc., February, 1842, to February, 1845; also proceedings of the 

 meeting of April, 1844 : Washington, 1845. 



