266 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



be applied to promote agricultural education, that science 

 being heretofore neglected in the systems of education of this 

 country ; which was referred to the Committee on Agricul- 

 ture. 



House of Representatives, February 19, 1844. 



The Speaker laid before the House the following com- 

 munication, viz : ^ 



A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, in answer 

 to a resolution of the House of Eepresentatives of the 

 3d of January last, transmitting statements showing the 

 present state and condition of the funds bequeathed by 

 James Smithson to the United States ; the payments of in- 

 terest that have been received, and what have been refused 

 or withheld on the State stocks in which the said funds 

 were invested, and the amount of interest so withheld ; and 

 stating what measures had been taken to recover the in- 

 terest withheld ; also, accompanied witli copies of the cor- 

 respondence in relation to the purchase of State stocks for 

 the fund : which letter and accompanying documents were, 

 on motion of Mr. John Quincy Adams, referred to a select 

 committee of nine members. 



Mr. John Quincy Adams, Mr. Houston, Mr, Chappell, 

 Mr. French, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Brengle,* Mr. Yost, Mr. E. D. 

 Potter, and Mr. Wethered,'" were appointed the said com- 

 mittee. 



The following is the letter: 



Treasury Department, February 17, 1844. 



Sir : In compliance with the resolution of the House of 

 Eepresentatives of the 3d of January last, I have the honor 

 to transmit the accompanying statements A, B, C, showing 

 " the present state and condition of the funds bequeathed 

 by James Smithson to the United States, for the establish- 

 ment of an institution for the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men; the pa3mients of interest that have 

 been received, and what have been refused, or withheld, on 

 the State stocks in which the said funds were invested, and 

 the amount of interest so withheld." 



I have the honor further to report, in compliance with 

 the resolution, that the only measures taken to recover the 

 interest so withheld were, by retaining in the Treasury the 

 amounts stated in statement C, under the provisions of the 



*This committee, though ordered, was not actually appointed until 

 Messrs. Brengle and Wetbered took their seats. 



