90 S Mis. 53. 



Mr. Fitch presented a resolution relative to the payment of the ac- 

 counts of Mr. Renwick, the consideration of which was postponed to 

 the next meeting. 



The Board then adjourned to Monday evening, August 9, at 7^ 

 o'clock. 



Washington, Augiist. 9, 1852. 



The Board of Regents met this evening at 7 J o'clock. Present : 

 Messrs. Colcock, Mason, Maur}^ Pearce, and Totten, of the Board, and 

 Mr. Seaton, treasurer; and, by invitation, Mr. Lenox, late Mayor of 

 Washington. 



In the absence of the Chancellor, Mr. Pearce took the chair. 



The proposition to advance Mr. Cameron six thousand dollars from 

 the fifteen per cent, retained by the Board was brought up for consid- 

 eration, and after a full discussion ol the same, the following resolution, 

 offered by Mr. Mason, was adopted : 



Resolved, That the Building Committee be requested to settle the 

 accounts of Mr. Cameron, pursuant to his contract, and that any bal- 

 ance that may be found due be paid him, unless, in the discretion of 

 the committee, under advice of counsel, it may be deemed prudent by 

 them to pay the money into court, in the pending suit to which the 

 Institution is a party, or to withhold it until further order of the Board. 



The resolution offered by Mr. Fitch at the last meeting, relative to 

 the accounts of Mr. Renwick, was taken up ; and after being modified 

 by General Totten, was adopted, as follows : 



Resolved, That Mr. Renwick, having reported by letter to the Building 

 Committee that the Smithsonian building is completed, be notified that 

 his services as architect are no longer required by the Regents of this 

 Institution, and that the bills he has presented for his services up to the 

 first of August, 1852, will be paid as soon as he shall have rendered to 

 the Regents his final certificate of the completion of the building, ac- 

 cording to the terms of the contract with Dixon and Cameron, as mod- 

 ified on the 3d July, 1850 ; and if the building be not completed, the 

 said bills shall be paid upon the rendition of his certificate showing the 

 extent to which it is completed, and the particulars in which it is unfin- 

 ished ; together with any plans of the building, or papers, belonging to 

 the Institution, which may be in his possession. 



Resolved, That the Secretary be authorized to pay said bills, in ac- 

 cordance with the foregoing resolution. 



The Secretary stated that the expiration of the term of service of 

 Mr. Lenox as a Regent, has caused a vacancy in the Building Com- 

 mittee. 



The Chair nominated Mr. Maury to fill the vacancy ; and, on mo- 

 tion, the nomination was confirmed. 



The following resolution, offered by Mr. Totten, was adopted : 



Resolved, That the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution 

 have heard with deep regret the death of Mr. Andrew J. Downing, 

 late superintendent of the grounds of the Institution. 



Resolved, That we entertain a grateful sense of the value of Mr. 

 Downing's services in the department to whi(;h he devoted his fife; and 



