JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 27 



Resolved, That the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution he authorized and re- 

 quested to communicate with men eminent in science and literature, and to ask their 

 advice, in behalf of the institution, in regard to the subjects for which premiums 

 shall be offered, and upon which reports and essays shall be prepared. 



Resolved, That the Committee on Organization present, for the approval of the 

 Board at its next meeting, the details of the plans which they may recommend, in 

 pursuance of the foregoing, for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. 



Mr. Hilliard offered the following resolutions; which were read, 

 and, after debate, agreed to : 



Resolved, That the salary of the Assistant Secretary, acting as librarian, shall be 

 two thousand dollars. 



Resolved, That the Secretary be requested now to nominate to the Board an assist- 

 ant, who shall be the librarian, and whose salary shall commence whenever the build- 

 ing shall be ready for the reception of the library. 



Resolved, That for any service rendered by him from this time, in collecting books, 

 making catalogues, &c, he shall receive such compensation as the Executive Commit- 

 tee may deem reasonable. 



Whereupon the Secretary remarked, that, understanding Profes- 

 sor Charles C. Jewett, of Brown University, to be the preference of 

 a majority of the Board, he, therefore, nominated Charles C. Jewett 

 for Assistant Secretary, acting as librarian, of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution. 



Mr. Evans offered,the following resolution; which was read and 

 agreed to : 



Resolved, That this Board do approve the nomination of Charles C. Jewett, and 

 consent to his employment as Assistant Secretary, to act as librarian. 



The Chancellor having withdrawn, Mr. Seaton took the chair as . 

 Chancellor pro tern. 



The Chancellor presented to the Board a letter from the Hon. 

 Richard Rush, one of the Regents, stating his regret that an indis- 

 pensable engagement made it necessary that he should be absent 

 from the meeting of the Board, and approving of Mr. Renwick's 

 plans and drawings for the building. 



The Board proceeded to the consideration of the report of the 

 Building Committee, when Mr. Owen presented a proposition rela- 

 tive to the estimates for the cost of the building. 



After debate, the whole subject was postponed until to-morrow. 



On motion of Mr. Owen — 



Ordered, That when the Board adjourn it will adjourn to meet to-morrow, at half 

 past nine o'clock, a. m. 



The Board then adjourned. 



January 27, 1847. 

 Mr. Choate presented a letter from Charles H. Hill, of the city 

 of New York, calling the attention of the Board of Regents to the 

 quality of the marble of the quarries at West Stockbridge, Berk- 

 shire county, Massachusetts, and offering to furnish any quantity of 



