JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 21 



peculiar fitness for the appointment of professor of agricultural 

 chemistry, and requesting that such a professorship may be estab- 

 lished, and he appointed to the chair thereof. 



Mr. Bache presented sundry letters, recommending Titian R. 

 Peale for the appointment of curator of the institution, to have 

 charge of the museum of natural history. 



The Chancellor presented the following letter from B. B. French, 



Assistant Secretar}^ and librarian pro tempore, which was read : 



Washington, January 19, 1847. 

 Hon. George M. Dallas, 



Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Sir : Since my last communication, relative to books received by me for the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, the following have been transmitted by the publishers in compli- 

 ance with the tenth section of the act of Congress establishing the institution. 

 ********* 

 Kespectfully, your obedient servant, 



B. B. FRENCH, 

 Assistant Secretary and Librarian pro tern. 



The Chancellor from the committee appointed on the 9th day of 

 September last to select a plan for the building for the institution 

 made a report thereon accompanied by the following resolutions : 



1. Resolved, That the Norman plan of a building for the Smithsonian Institution, 

 furnished by James Renwick, Jr., of New York, substantially as amended agreeably to 

 the suggestions of the committee, is approved and adopted by this Board. 



2. Resolved, That, as testimonials of the high sense entertained by this Board of the 

 scientific merit and skill displayed in their respective plans, the following premiums 

 be awarded to the gentlemen named : 



To Messrs. "Wells and Arnot - $250 



Mr. John Notman - 250 



Mr. John Haviland - 250 



Mr. Owen G-. Warren - 250 



and that one thousand dollars be appropriated for that purpose. 



3. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Board be instructed to write to each of the 

 architects to whom are awarded premiums, informing them of the amount awarded, 

 and that, if accepted, their plans will be retained by the institution ; and also to each 

 of the architects whose plans have not received premiums, informing them that their 

 plans have not been accepted, and that they are at the disposal of their respective 

 authors, and will be forwarded to them free of expense if desired, or at their option, 

 retained by the institution. 



4. Resolved, That a committee of three members of the Board, as proA r ided for in the 

 fifth section of the act of Congress, be appointed, who shall be empowered, on behalf 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, to enter into contracts for the completion of the build- 

 ings, and to take security for their being finished according to the plan adopted by the 

 Board, and within the time that may be stipulated ; and that said committee have 

 authority to employ one or more persons to superintend the erection of the buildings 

 and the fitting up of the rooms of the institution. 



The said report and resolutions were read, and the question be- 

 ing, Shall the resolutions pass ? 

 On motion, it was — 

 Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed for the present. 



The Chancellor presented a memorial of citizens of the District 

 of Columbia, remonstrating against the use of the New York mar- 

 ble in constructing the building for the institution, if it is to be 



