6 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



With a view to give, as extensively and rapidly as possible, notice to the architects 

 of the country of the objects and duties of the committee, the resolution by which 

 they were constituted was published in the newspapers of this city on the 22d day of 

 September, 1846. 



The shortness of time, however, rendering it probable that no satisfactory com- 

 munications would be received from architects before the present meeting of the 

 Board, the committee entered upon a tour of personal inspection, hoping to accumu- 

 late information that might guide the Board in the choice of a plan for building ; and 

 Mr. Owen, Mr. Hough, and Col. Totten visited our principal cities, examined many 

 if not all of their most noted structures, had conferences with several of their archi- 

 tects eminent for science and success, collected specimens of the best stone material, 

 and obtained data upon which to "estimate the cost of the contemplated building 

 when constructed of different materials. ' ' 



At the city of Philadelphia, the Girard College, the Eastern Penitentiary, the House 

 of Eefuge, the hall of the Mercantile Library Company, the Exchange, the Custom- 

 house, (formerly the Bank of the United States,) and the Athenieum, now being 

 built, were visited. 



Mr. Strickland and Mr. Walter were called upon, but were unfortunately absent 

 from the city. Mr. Haviland was also called upon ; but not being seen, all necessary 

 information was sent to him through his son. Mr. Notman was seen and repeatedly 

 conversed with. 



At the city of Trenton, the State Lunatic Asylum, and the old but renovated State- 

 House, wei'Q visited. 



In examining these edifices, advantage was derived from the constant presence and 

 intelligent remarks of Mr. Notman. 



At the city of New York, Grace Church, Calvary Church, the Church of the Puri- 

 tans, the Tombs, Trinity Church, the University, Dr. Pott's Church, the Muhlenburg 

 Church, Mr. Bellows' Church, the Church of the Pilgrims, and several other churches, 

 were visited. Much valuable information was obtained at consultations with Mr. 

 Kenwick, accompanied by his father, Professor Kenwick ; Mr. Upjohn, Mr. Warren, 

 Mr. Thompson, Mr. Mountain, Mr. Wells, Mr. Arnot, and Mr. Jewett. Mr. Hough 

 took occasion to visit also the marble quarry at Hastings, and several other quarries in 

 the vicinity of New York. 



At the city of Boston, the Masonic Temple, the Howard Street Athenamni, the new 

 Custom-House, the Merchants' Exchange, the new Theatre, and other structures, were 

 visited. Mr. Eogers and Mr. Young were the architects conferred with. 



At the city of Cincinnati, interviews were had with Mr. Daniels and Mr. Walter. 



During the visits thus briefly sketched, a series of letters were written by Mr. Owen 

 to Mr. Seaton, embodying the fruits of each day's exertion, and communicating very 

 many details of great interest. These are best submitted to the Board in their origi- 

 nal form ; the committee therefore annex them to this report. 



Valuable letters have been received from David Dale Owen, Professor Silliman, and 

 Professor Fowler, in relation specially to the comparative merits of marble and sand- 

 stone : these also are annexed for the inspection of the Board. 



In order still further to assist the judgment of the Board on the important point of 

 the choice of material for the building, the committee have caused several sample 

 walls of different stone to be thrown up for their examination. 



It will be perceived, by the correspondence of Mr. Owen, that the architects with 

 whom he conferred are required to transmit their several plans to the Board by the 

 25th of December next. Until they are received, no definite choice can be made ; and 

 as " the best material," and " the best modes of lighting and ventilating," together with 

 " estimates of the cost," could, in the opinion of the committee, only be safely deter- 

 mined by reference to the plan finally adopted, they have abstained from treating 

 those points further than they are touched upon in the annexed correspondence. 



" The selection of a site " is a subject also referred to this committee ; but as it was 

 made a matter of personal examination by the whole Board at their last meeting, the 

 committee respectfully confine themselves to reporting the following resolution : 



Resolved, That the Kegents of the Smithsonian Institution do select and adopt as 

 the site for their buildings, so much of the Mall, in the city of Washington, as lies 

 between Seventh street and the river Potomac, if the consent of the persons named in 

 the fourth section of the act to establish the Smithsonian Institution for the increase 

 and diffusion of knowledge among men, be obtained thereto ; and that upon such con- 



