56 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



The members then present were Messrs. Oolcock, Davis, Fill- 

 more, Fitch, Ililliard, Mason, Pearce, Rush, Seaton, and Totten. 



The proceedings of the last meeting were read and approved. 



The report of the Secretary of the Institution was presented and 

 read : 



On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was — 



Resolved, That the report of the Secretary he recorded, and form a part of the re- 

 port of the Eegents to Congress. 



Mr. Seaton, on behalf of the Executive Committee, presented a 

 report on the financial condition of the institution, and stated that 

 the report was complete thus far, and that the portion relating to' 

 the appropriations for the ensuing year would be presented at 

 another time. 



Gen. Totten presented the report of the Building Committee. 



On motion of Mr. Pearce, it was — 



Ordered, That these reports be also recorded. 



The Secretary suggested that the journal of the establishment be 

 read. It was accordingly read. 

 On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was — 



Resolved, That the honorary members of the Smithsonian Institution be, and are 

 hereby, invited to attend the meetings of the Board of llegents whenever they may 

 think fit ; and that the Secretary communicate to the present honorary members, and 

 from time to time to such persons as may be elected honorary members, this resolu- 

 tion and invitation of the Board of Eegents. 



Mr. Davis presented, by request, a proposition of Mr. Harmon,, 

 of Ohio, for the encouragement of architecture. 



This proposition was, on motion of Mr. Davis, referred to the 

 Secretary and Executive Committee. 



Mr. Rush presented a letter from Harrison Hall relative to the 

 purchase of books ; which was laid on the table. 



The Secretary stated that he had received a note from the Hon. 

 Abbott Lawrence, United States Ambassador to Great Britain, con- 

 cerning a communication from H. P. Bohn, offering for sale, at the 

 price of thirty guineas, a small portrait of James Smithson, now in 

 the possession of Mrs. Fitall, widow of a servant of the late Mr. 

 Smithson. 



This communication having been read, on motion of Mr. Mason, 

 it was — 



Resolved, That the Secretary be authorized to purchase the portrait of the late Mr. 

 Smithson, spoken of by Mr. Lawrence in his letter of 10th of December, 1849. 



On motion of Mr. Davis, the Board adjourned, to meet on Satur- 

 day, the 18th instant, at 11 o'clock, a. m. 



