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Washington, January 31, 1852. 



The Board this day met at 11 o'clock, a. m. Present — Mr. Taney, 

 chancellor ; Messrs. Colcock, Mason, Meacham and Totten. 



The secretary communicated to the Board a copy of the will of Thomas 

 Wynn, late of Brooklyn, New York, deceased, which contains a contingent 

 devise or legacy to the Smithsonian Institution. 



Extract from the will of Thomas Wynn, oi Brooklyn, New York : 



« Upon the decease of my said daughter the said real and personal estate, or the proceeds 

 and accumulations thereof, shall be equally divided between or among her issue, share and 

 share alike, the issue of children to stand in place of their parent; or if she sliould die 

 without issue, ten thousand dollars sliall be paid to my friend John Anderson, of Florida, 

 and tlie residue to tlic Smithsonian Institution at "Wasliington, as I know no benevolent in- 

 stitution more useful or appropriate. A sufMcient and ample fund sliall, however, be always 

 reserved to secure the annuity to my -wife." 



On motion of Mr. Colcock, it was 



Resolved, That the said will be referred to Mr. Mason, witli a request that he would cor- 

 respond witli an agent in New York, to ascertain tlie vahie of the estate so devised, and 

 whether any and what measures may be necessary to preserve and secure the interests of 

 the Inlititution under the said will. 



The secretary informed the Board that since the last meeting he had 

 taken the certificates of the stock belonging to the Institution, amounting 

 to $180,000, from the safety vault of the Secretary of the Senate, and had 

 p-iven them in charge to Messrs. Corcoran & Biggs on the terms prescribed 

 by the Board at their last meeting. He also stated that the certificates 

 were not yet finally transferred to the bankers, but stand in the name of 

 the chancellor and secretary as vsecurity for the stock itself. On the pro- 

 ceeds of this stock, which at sixteen per cent, premium amounts to $208,- 

 000, the Institution is to receive interest at the rate of five per cent, per 

 annum. 



The secretary was requested to obtain from Messrs. Corcoran & Biggs 

 a written account of his agreement with reference to the aforementioned 

 transaction. 



The Board then adjourned to Saturday the 14th of February next. 



Washington, Saturday^ February 14, 1852. 



The Board met this day at 11 o'clock, a. ra. Present — Mr. Taney, chan- 

 cellor ; Messrs. Colcock, Fitch, Lenox, Mason, Meacham and Totten, of 

 the Regents ; and Mr. Seaton, treasurer. 



The secretary presented a written statement from Messrs. Corcoran & 

 Riggs relative to the sale of stock belonging to the Institution, and the 

 deposite of the certificates of United States stock as security therefor. 



A proposition was submitted from Dr. H. Stone, of New York, to furnish 

 designs for a moimment in commemoration of James Smithson. An expla- 

 nation of the designs exhibited was read. 



On motion of Mr. Mason, it was 



ResoJveJy That Dr. Stone's proposition lie on the table. 



The secretary communicated a proposition from Henry Stevens, of Lon- 

 don, to obtain facts relative to the life of Janies Smithson, 



