[ 120 ] 48 



February 9^ 1850. 



The Board of Regents met, agreeably to adjournment, at 11 o'clock a. m. 



Present: Messrs. Fillmore, Colcock, Davis, Fitch, Hilliard, Pearce, and 

 Seaton . 



The Chancellor took the chair, and the proceedings of the last meeting 

 were read. 



A verbal report on the proposition of Mr. Harmon, of Ohio, for the im- 

 provement of architecture in the United States, was made by the Secre- 

 tary, accompanied by a synopsis of the plan. He stated that he considered 

 jio part of Mr. Harmon's plan to be absolutely at variance with the pro- 

 gramme of organization, but he was not clear with regard to its practical 

 application, and the propriety of its adoption. It might, however, be sub- 

 mitted to the public through the Regents' report to Congress. 



The following is a synopsis of the plan referred to: 



PART FIRST. 



1. Invite architects to send to the institution designs for building. 



2. Refer these to a commission, comprising at least one practical archi- 

 tect. 



3. The examiners to select from the number submitted, those of a cer- 

 tain degree of merits to be honored v/ith a place in the gallery. 



4. The accepted designs to be re-exccuted, in a uniform and attractive 

 style of art, before being placed in the gallery, and undersigned by the 

 name of the architect. 



PART SECOXD. 



1. Invite building committees, or others chpj-ged with the erection of 

 public buildings, to send to the Smithsonian Institution, specifications, 

 limit of cost, and amount of premium offered. 



2. The Secretary 'to advertise, in the usual form, for designs, and to 

 refer them to a commission of competent judges, one of whom to be a 

 practical architect. 



3. From among the designs submitted, the commissioners to select a 

 fev/ of the best and return them to the Building Conmiittee, stating their 

 preference, if any. 



4. The plans of extraordinary merit, selected from among the designs 

 submitted, shall be entitled to a place in the prize galleiy. 



5. The expense of the commission for making the estimate, and adver- 

 tising, shall be paid from a percentage on premiums accompanying the 

 specifications. 



6. A person well skilled in practical building to be employed, and the 

 designs adopted, to be submitted to him for a correct estimate of the cost. 



This synopsis being considered, the first article of the first part was 

 adopted, after being amended by Mr. Davis, to read as follows: 



Resolved, That architects be invited to send in designs for buildings, 

 and that notice be given that models of ancient or modern architecture 

 •will be received by the Smithsonian Institution, and that such designs or 

 models, at the discretion of the Regents, will be placed in the gallery of 

 art. 



The second and third articles were struck oui; and, on motion of Mr. 

 Fitch, it was 



Resolved, That the fourth article be referred to a committee consisting 

 of the Secretary and Mr. Seaton, with instructions to ascertain fioni Mr. 



