TWENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, 1835-37. 147 



having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, 

 was read a third time. 



Resolved, That this resohition pass, and that the title 

 thereof be as aforesaid. 



Ordered, That the secretary requests the concurrence of 

 the House of Representatives therein. 



Senate, Saturday, June 25, 1836. 



A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. 

 Franklin, their clerk : 



Mr. President: The House of Representatives have 

 passed the resolution from the Senate (No. 4) " 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 

 Institution, an establishment for the increase and diff"usion 

 of knowledge among men," with amendments. 



The Senate proceeded to consider the amendments of the 

 House of Representatives to the resolution (No. 4) ; and 



Resohiedy That they concur therein. 



Senate, Tuesday, June 28, 1836. 



Mr. Niles reported from the committee that they had ex- 

 amined and found [the above bill] duly enrolled. 



Senate, Saturday, July 2, 1836. 



A message from the President of the United States, by 

 Mr. Donelson, his secretary, that he had duly approved and 

 signed, the 1st of July, 1836, the above act. 



An Act 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 Institution, an establishment for the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 

 States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United 

 States be, and he is hereby, authorized to constitute and appoint an agent 

 or agents, to assert and prosecute for and in behalf of the United States, 

 and in their name or otherwise, as may be advisable, in the Court of Chan- 

 cery, or other proper tribunal of England, the right of the United States 

 to the legacy bequeathed to them by the last will and testament of James 

 Smithson, late of London, deceased, for the purpose of founding at Wash- 

 ington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment 

 for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men ; and to empower 

 such agent or agents so appointed to receive and grant acquittances for all 

 Buch sum or sums of money, or other funds, as may or shall be decreed or 

 adjudged to the United States, for, or on account, of said legacy. 



Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said agent or agents shall, 



