[23] 



150 



we shall have to pay to him up to the 1st January next, may be about 

 §^10,0(10; and up to the 19th March next, (being one year from the date 

 of the contract,) perhaps $5,000 more; making tlie total payments in the 

 first year but $29,000, instead of $41,000, (one-fourth the amount at 

 which the building was contracted,) being the amount we were author- 

 ized to expend. 



We have thus, you will perceive, husbanded our resources so as to save 

 interest much beyond the anticipations of the board. 



The building proceeds as well as could be desired ; and its appearance, 

 so far as I can learn, gives universal satisfaction, 

 I am, my dear sir, faithfully yours, 



ROBERT DALE OWEN. 

 The Hon. George M. Dallas, 



Chancellor. 



The chairman, in connexion with the subject of the treatise on Public 

 Architecture, of which the preparation by resolution of the 6th March last 

 (see page 22) was intrusted to him, stated to the committee that he had 

 commenced the collection of materials for said work, but had been able 

 to make but little progress in it while at home, for lack of the necessary 

 works of reference; that it was his intention now to devote his time to it, 

 without interruption, in the hope that he might be able to complete the 

 letter press before the meeting of the board in December, and that some 

 of the chief illustrations were already in hands in New York. 



And, on motion, the committee adjourned. 



THIRTY SEVENTH MEETING— October 22, 1847. 

 [Held on the site of the Institution.] 



Present, Messrs. Seaton, Totten, and Owen. 



Representations having been made to the committee by sundry indi- 

 viduals, in regard to the insufficient quality of some of the materials em- 

 ployed by the contractor in the building, they proceeded to the building, 

 and after carefully examining the materials complained of, they decided 

 that, although there were some pieces of timber in the east connecting 

 range which were not merchantable, these were not of such a character, 

 nor so placed, that any practical injury would result to the structure from 

 their use ; and, therefore, the committee decided that it was not necessary 

 to condemn or remove them. They instructed the architect, however, for 

 the future to throw out every piece of timber, no matter how unimpor- 

 tant its destination, which was not strictly merchantable. 



The committee fully approved all the other materials used in the build- 

 ing. 



And, on motion, the committee adjourned. 



THIRTY EIGHTH MEETING— October 26, 1S47. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton and Owen. 



The chairman informed the committee that he had visited, in company 

 with the architect and contractor, the several quarries of Bull run from 

 which material is now getting out for the building, and had inspected the 

 blocks prepared for transportation, of which a large number had accumu- 



