CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



Message from the President of the United States. 



Washington, December 17, 1835. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States : 



I transmit to Congress a report from the Secretary of 

 State, accompanying copies of certain papers* relating to a 

 bequest to the "United States, by Mr. James Smithson, of 

 London, for the purpose of founding, at Washington, an 

 establishment, under the name of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among 

 men." The Executive having no authority to take any 

 steps for accepting the trust, and obtaining the funds, the 

 papers are communicated with a view to such measures as 

 Congress may deem necessary. 



Andrew Jackson. 



PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE. 



Senate, December 21, 1835. 

 The message was read, and ordered that it be referred to 

 the Committee on the Judiciar-y, and printed. 



Senate, Tuesday, January 5, 1836. 



Mr. Leigh, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to 

 whom was referred the message of the President of the 

 United States, of the 21st ultimo, relative to the bequest of 

 the late James Smithson, of London, made a report, accom- 

 panied by a joint resolution to authorize and enable the 

 President to assert and prosecute with effect the claim of 

 the United States to the legacy bequeathed to them by 

 James Smithson, late of London, deceased, to found at 

 Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men. The resolution was read, and 

 passed to a second reading. 



Ordered, That the report be printed. 



* For these papers see Correspondence. 



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