20 



examination by a commission of competent judges, the memoir shall be found 

 to furnish a new and interesting addition to knowledge, resting on original re- 

 search. The accompanying memoir, entitled " Ancie7it Monuments of the Mis- 

 sissippi Valley,''' Si'c, having been presented for publication, I beg leave to refer 

 the same, through you, to the American Ethnological Society, with the re- 

 quest that a committee of the members may be appointed to examine and 

 report on its character, in reference to the particulars above mentioned. If the 

 report of the committee be favorable, the memoir will be accepted for publica- 

 tion ; full confidence being placed in the ability of tlie committee to judge of 

 the character of the article, and in their caution in making up their opinion. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



JOSEPH HENRY, 

 Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



Hon. Albert Gallatin, 



President American Ethnological Society. 



Extract of a letter from the President of the American Ethnological Society to 

 the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



"New York, J«7iel2, 1847. 



" Dear Sir : I have the honor to enclose a copy of the proceedings and 

 resolutions of the New York Ethnological Society upon the MS. work on 

 American Antiquities, by Messrs. E. G. Squier and E. H. Davis, submitted with 

 your letter of the Sd inst. 



" I approve entirely of the resolutions and recommendations of the society. 



" Whatever may be the intrinsic value of the remains of former times which 

 are found in the LFnited States, it is necessary that they should at least be cor- 

 rectly described, and that existing gross errors should be corrected ; and I re- 

 peat my conviction that, though ardent, Messrs. Squier and Davis are animated 

 by that thorough love of truth which renders their researches worthy of entire 

 confidence. 



" I have the honor to be, &c., 



" ALBERT GALLATIN. 

 " Prof J. Henry, 



" Secretary of Smithsonian Institution J' ^ 



At a regular meeting of the American Ethnological Society, held at the 

 house of the Hon. Albert Gallatin, on the evening of the 4th of June, the 

 president laid before the members a communication from Professor J Henry, 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, transmitting, for the examination and 

 opinion of the society, a MS. work on the Ancient Aboriginal Monuments of 

 the United States. On motion, the letter and accompanying MS. were refer- 

 red to a committee consisting of Edward Robinson, D. D., John R. Bartlett, 

 Professor W. W. Turner, Samuel G. Morton, M. D., and Hon. George P. 

 Marsh, to report upon the same. At a subsequent meeting of the society, 

 this committee submitted the following report and resolutions, which were 

 unanimously accepted and adopted : 



i 



