JOURNAL OP PROCEEDINGS. 59 



February 2, 1850. 



The following gentlemen attended, agreeably to adjournment, 

 viz : Messrs. Davis, Fitch, and Seaton. 



No quorum being present, the meeting adjourned to the 9th in- 

 stant, at 10 o'clock, a. m. 



February 9, 1850. 



The Board of Regents met, agreeably to adjournment, at 11 

 o clock, a. m. 



Present, Messrs. Fillmore, Colcock, Davis, Fitch, Hilliard, Pearce, 

 and Seaton. 



The Chancellor took the chair, and the proceedings of the last 

 meeting were read. 



A verbal report on the proposition of Mr. Harmon, of Ohio, for 

 the improvement of architecture in the United States, was made by 

 the Secretary, accompanied by a synopsis of the plan. He stated 

 that he considered no part of Mr. Harmon's plan to be absolutely 

 at variance with the programme of organization, but he was not 

 clear with regard to its practical application, and the propriety of 

 its adoption. It might, however, be submitted to the public 

 through the Regents' report to Congress. 



The following is a synopsis of the plan referred to : 



PART FIRST. 



1. Invite architects to send to the institution designs for building. 



2. Refer these to a commission, to comprise at least one practical architect. 



3. The examiners to select from the number submitted, those of a certain degree of 

 merit, to be honored with a place in the gallery. 



4. The accepted designs to be re-executed, in a uniform and attractive style of art, 

 before being placed in the gallery, and undersigned by the name of the architect. 



PART SECOND. 



1. Invite building committees, or others charged with the erection of public build- 

 ings, to send to the Smithsonian Institution, specifications, limit of cost, and amount 

 of premium offered. 



2. The Secretary to advertise, in the usual form, for designs, and to refer them to a 

 commission of competent judges, one of whom to be a practical architect. 



3. From among the designs submitted, the commissioners to select a few of the best 

 and return them to the Building Committee, stating their preference, if any. 



4. The plans of extraordinary merit, selected from among the designs submitted, 

 shall be entitled to a place in the prize gallery. 



5. The expenses of the commission for making the estimate, and advertising, shall 

 be paid from a percentage on premiums accompanying the specifications. 



C. A person well skilled in practical building to be employed, and the designs 

 adopted, to be submitted to him for a correct estimate of the cost. 



This synopsis being considered, the first article of the first part 

 was adopted, after being amended by Mr. Davis, to read as follows: 



Resolved, That architects be invited to send in designs for buildings, and that notice 

 be given that models of ancient or modern architecture will be received by the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, and that such designs or models, at the discretion of the Regents, 

 will be placed in the gallery of art. 



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