6 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



An act of Congress, dated August 10, 1846, provides " that the President and 

 Vice-President of the United States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the 

 Treasury, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, the Postmaster 

 General, the Attorney General, the Chief Justice, and the Commissioner of the 

 Patent Office of the United States, and the Mayor of the City of Washington, 

 during the time for which they shall hold their respective offices, and such other 

 persons as they may elect as honorary members, be and they are hereby constituted 

 an ' establishment,' by the name of the ' Smithsonian Institution," for the in- 

 crease and diffusion of knowledge among men." 



The law also provides for a " Board of Regents," to be composed of the Vice- 

 President of the United States and the Mayor of the City of Washington, during 

 the time for which they shall hold their respective offices, three members of the 

 Senate and three members of the House of Representatives, together with six 

 other persons, other than members of Congress, two of whom shall be members of 

 the National Institute, in the City of Washington, and resident in the 5aid city ; 

 and the other four shall be inhabitants of othCr States, and no two of them from 

 the same State. 



The Establishment exercises general supervision over the affairs of the Institu- 

 tion. 



The Board of Regents conducts the business of the Institution, and makes 

 annual reports to Congress. , 



The Secretary of the Institution is elected by the Board. His duty is to take 

 charge of the building and property, discharge the duty of librarian, keeper of 

 the museum, etc., and has power, by consent of the Regents, to employ assist- 

 ants. 



All laws for the protection of public property in Washington apply to the lauJs^ 

 Duildinjrs, and other property of the Institution. 



MBTEOKITE FROM COAHrlLA, JIEXICO. 



