PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGENTS 97 



All that will be requisite to be done in the first instance is, that we 

 should have the authority of the President of the United States to 

 present a petition for an order to have the fund paid to him. On our 

 obtaining this order, a power of attorney will be sent out to the Presi- 

 dent authorizing some person here to receive from the court of chan- 

 cer3^ and transmit to him, or to the manager! of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, the fund in question. 



Having in the suit had the honor of acting for the President, it 

 might be within our functions to present the petition even without an 

 express authority, but we did not deem it right to do so without some 

 communication with the President or wuth the managers of the Insti- 

 tution. 



Of course, although the order might be obtained without, the fund 

 can only be dealt with on the signature of the President. 



We have the honor to be, sir, your very obedient servants, 



FL AD GATE, CLARKE & FINCH. 



Joseph Henry, Esq., 



Smiilisonian Institution^ Washington. 



On motion of Mr. Trumbull, it was 



Eesolved, That the Secretary and Executive Committee consult M'itli 

 the President of the United States and take Buch action as may be 

 necessary for obtaining the money referred to in the communication 

 from the solicitors in London. 



T!ie Secretary stated that Congress had passed a joint resolution 

 granting to the Institution a set of the volumes of the United States 

 Exploring Expedition. 



The Secretary gave an account of the organization of the "Estab- 

 lishment," and stated that although he had regularly given notice to 

 tlie members, no meetings had lately been held. 



The Secretary presented the manuscripts, maps and collections of 

 the expedition to the Arctic regions of Dr. I. I. Hayes, which were 

 referred to Professor Bache. 



The Secretary made a statement relative to the system of inter- 

 national exchange conducted by the Institution, and presented the 

 following letter : 



Hamburg American Packet Company, 



Neiv York, October 21, 1861. 



Dear Sir: In reply to your favor of October 18, w-e beg to state 

 that we shall be most happy to accommodate the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution in furthering the wishes you express, and take on freight, free of 

 charge, any packages which you desire to ship, be they specimens of 



