JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 11 



I acknowledged the receipt of each of the foregoing books by letter, addressed 

 through the mail, to the person who sent it. 



Accompanying the Bibliotheca Americana jSTova, from 0. Rich, Esq., of London, is 

 .a note addressed to the Regents, in which he offers his services in supplying any books 

 they may require from England or any part of Europe. 



Mr. Rich also addressed a note to me, making substantially the same offer, to which 

 I replied, presenting my thanks, as Assistant Secretary, for the books sent, and prom- 

 ising to bring the subject' to the attention of the Regents at this meeting. 



Many letters have been addressed to me in relation to the institution, making many 

 inquiries, but not as I deemed of a nature to make them official. 



Every letter received has been answered, giving all the information in my possession 

 as to the subjects inquired about. 



With the best wishes for the perfect success of the institution, I am, with high re- 

 spect, your obedient servant, 



B. B. FRENCH, 



Assistant Secretary. 



Hon. Geo. M. Dallas, 



Chancellor of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. 



The Chancellor also presented a letter from Alexander Jones to 

 the Assistant Secretary, asking to be appointed agent of the insti- 

 tution in New York for receiving and forwarding books, which was 

 read and placed on file. 



Mr. Owen presented letters recommending sundry persons for 

 the Secretaryship of the institution, which were placed on file for 

 future consideration. 



Mr. Choate, from the committee appointed at the meeting of the 

 Regents in September, in relation to the formation of a library, 

 made a report, accompanied by resolutions, which were read. 



On motion of Mr. Owen, the resolutions accompanying the re- 

 port made by him from the Committee on Organization were taken 

 up for consideration. 



Mr. Owen moved that the Board proceed to consider the resolu- 

 tion relative to the qualifications of secretary, and numbered 13 ; 

 which motion was agreed to. 



The said resolution was then read, as follows : 



[JSTo. 13.] Resolved, That it is essential, for the advancement of the proper interests 

 of the trust, that the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution be a man possessing 

 weight of character, and a high grade of talent ; and that it is further desirable that 

 he possess eminent scientific and general acquirements ; that he be a man capable of 

 advancing science and promoting letters by original research and efibrt, well qualified 

 to act as a respected channel of communication between the institution and scientific 

 and literary individuals and societies in this and foreign countries ; and, in a word, a 

 man worthy to represent before the world of science and of letters the institution over 

 which this Board presides. 



And the question being put on agreeing to the same, it was de- 

 cided in the affirmative. 



The remainder of the resolutions were then postponed for the 

 present. 



On motion of Mr. Owen, the resolution offered by Mr. Breese 

 yesterday relative to the election of a Secretary was taken up. Mr. 

 Breese modified the same to read as follows : 



