47 [ ]20 ] 



pedition of Lt. Giiliss, and a letter was read from hiin, dated at his station 

 near St. Jago, Chili. The information thus placed before the board con- 

 cerning the object and progress of the expedition, made apparent the im- 

 portance of furnishing Lieut. Gilhss with improved instruments. 



Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Mason, it was 



Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to furnish Lieut. GilHss with 

 instruments for facilitating his physical and astronomical observations in 

 Chili, at an expense not exceeding one tliousand dollars. 



The consideration of Mr. Harmon's plan for the encouragement of archi- 

 tecture was then resumed and discussed; when, on motion of Mr. Hilliard, 

 it was 



Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to report on the scheme sub- 

 mitted by Mr. Harmon for the improvement of architecture, exhibiting 

 such features of the scheme as may be found to be within the plan of or- 

 ganization adopted for the operations of the Smithsonian Institution. 



The Secretary precsented to the board a Hst of the names of gentlemen 

 who had undertaken the labor and responsibility of examining memoirs 

 and propositions submitted to the institution. 



Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Davis, it was 



Resolved, Tiiai die Secretary be requested to address a letter to each of 

 the gentlemen named, and convey to them the thanks of the Board of Re- 

 gents for their assistance in carrying on the operations of the institution. 



Mr. Davis presented a communication from Charles B. Wells, esq., 

 relative to a series of arcliajoiogical researches made by himself in Peru, 

 and requesting the assistance of the institution in their publication, which 

 W£^s referred to the Secretary. 



A letter was presented from Daniel Peirce, detailing a method of edu- 

 cating the Indian tribes, which was also referred to the Secretary. 



The Secretary called the attention of the board to the engagement ex- 

 isting between the institution and Hiram Powers, relative to the purchase 

 of his statue of the Greek Slave, which subject was referred to the Secre- 

 tary, with the understanding that he would communicate with Mr. Powers, 

 or his agent, for the purpose of effecting an alteration in the terms of the 



contract. 



The Secretary made a verbal report, on tlie progress made by Hemy 

 Stevens in the compilation of the " Bibliographia Americana." 



He also presented a letter from Pierre Margry, of Paris, requesting tlie 

 assistance of the institution to enable him to publish his researches upon the 

 history of the ancient French colonies in North America; which letter 

 was referred to the Secretary, for a reply, in accordance with the rules 

 adopted by the board. 



On motion of Mr. Davis, it was 



Resolved, That the board adjourn, to meet on Saturday next at 10 

 ■o'clock a. m. 



Whereupon the board adjourned, 



February 2, 1850. 



f* The following gentlemen attended, agreeably to adjournment, viz: 

 Messrs. Davis, Fitch, Seaton. 



No quorum being present, the meeting adjourned to the 9th inst., at 10 

 o'clock a. m. 



