4 Mis. No. 48. 



THIRD ANNUAL REPORT 



OF 



THE BOARD OF REGENTS 



OF 



THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 



SHOWING 



T/iei operations, expenditures, and condition of the Institution up to Janu- 

 ary \st, 1S49. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives : 



In obedience to the act of Congress establishing the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution for the increase and diffusion of linowledge among men, the under- 

 signed, in behalf of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 submit to Congress, as a report of the operations, expenditures, and con- 

 dition of the Institution, the following documents, viz: 



1. Proceedings of the Board of Regents at their last session. 



2. Annual report of the Secretary, giving an account of the operations 

 of the Institution during the past year, accompanied by a report from the 

 Assistant Secretary, relative to the library. 



3. Report of the Executive Committee, exhibiting an account of the 

 expenditures of the Institution, and of its financial condition on the 1st of 

 January, 1849. 



4. Report of the Building Committee relative to the progress made in 

 tlie erection of the Smithsonian edifice, and in the improvement of the 

 grounds, with a statement of the expenditures which have thus far been 

 made on the same. 



From these documents it will be seen that the Smithsonian Institution 

 nas already cmnnenced its operations for the increase and diffusion of 

 Knowledge among men; that the plan of organization wliich has been 

 adopted, and the works whicli have been completed and begun, have met 

 with the approbation of men of eminence in literature and science both in 

 this country and in Europe; that the Institution has received a valuable 

 donation of chemical and philosophical apparatus from our distinguished 

 countryman. Dr. Robert Hare, of Philadelpliia, and tliat its financial affairs 

 are in a very favorable condition. 



From the report of the- Building Committee it wilt be seen that tha 

 Smithsonian edifice is as flir advanced as tlie financial arrangements wliich 

 have been adopted would permit; that tlie two wings and connecting 

 ranges will be ready for occupation early in the present year, and that the 

 whole will be completed in tln-ee years from next March. 



The report of the Executive Committee shows, that after all the ex- 

 penditures for the erection of the building and the improvement of the 



