161 [ 23 ] 



The resolution offered by Mr. Choate on Tuesday, the 21st instant, rcla- 

 tive to the appointment of a committee of three to consider what services 

 may be rendered by the Assistant Secretary, acting as Hbrarian, between 

 this time and March 19, 1849, coming up for consideration, 



It was adopted. 



And the Chancellor appointed Messrs. Choate, Bache, and McClelland 

 the said committee. 



The Secretary stated to the board that during the past year he had, with 

 the consent of the Executive Committee, given a course of lectures at 

 Princeton, for which he had received, including the rent of the house oc- 

 cupied by his family, a compensation of one thousand dollars. For this 

 Slim, after deducting certain expenses for clerk hire, assistance, &c., he 

 had given credit to the board in his account for the present half year. 



FRIDAY, December 24, 1847. 

 The Chancellor presented the following letter from Mr. Cass: 



Washington, December 24, 1847. 

 Sir: Finding it impossible, consistently with my other duties, properly 

 to execute the trust of a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution, I request 

 that this may be considered as my resignation of that ofhce. 



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



LEWIS CASS. 

 To the Hon, George M. Dallas, 



Vice President t>f the United States. 



On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was 

 Resolved, That Mr. Breese be requested to move in the Senate of the 

 United States for the appointment of a successor to Mr. Cass. 

 On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was 

 Resolved, That the account of expenditures rendered by the Executive 

 Committee, after being certified by the Chancellor and the Secretary, be 

 entered on the journal. [See document No. 3.] 



MONDAY, December 27, 1847. 



Mr. Choate, from the committee appointed on the 23d instant, relative to 

 the duty of the Assistant Secretary, made the following report, with accom- 

 panying resolutions : 



The committee appointed at a meeting of the Board of Regents on the 

 23d instant, to inquire and report in what manner the Assistant Secretary, 

 as librarian, may be employed (if at all) with advantage to the Smithsonian 

 Institution, between the present time and the 19th March, 1849, respect- 

 fully present for the consideration of the board the following resolutions, 

 embracing the matter of their inquiries, together with a report from the As- 

 sistant Secretary. 



Respectfully submitted by 



R. CHOATE, 

 A. D. BACHE, 



R, McClelland, 



11 Committee. 



