64 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



being informed that the duration of the Toronto Observatory is 

 limited by law, on motion of Mr. Seaton, it was — 



Resolved, That the Chancellor and Secretary be requested to acknowledge the receipt 

 of the volume, with the expression of the hope of this Board that Her Majesty's Gov- 

 ernment may find it expedient to continue an institution of such utility to science. 



July 3, 1850. 



The Board met this day, at the call of the Secretary, in the Smith, 

 sonian building, at 9 a. m. 



Present, Messrs. Fillmore, Colcock, Davis, Fitch, Ililliard, Mason, 

 and Pearce. 



The Chancellor took the chair. 



Mr. Lenox, elected mayor of Washington, and ex-ofRcio Regent 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, appeared and took his seat. 



The journal of proceedings of the last meeting was read and ap- 

 proved. 



The Secretary presented the final report of the committee charged 

 with the examination of the building, which was read as follows : 



Final Report of the Committee of the Repents charged with the examination of the 



building. 



Under the resolutions of March 2, and April 20, 1850, offered by Mr. Fitch, and 

 also the resolution of June 1, 1850, offered by General Totten, the committee charged 

 with examinations relative to the building submit the following report: 



In accordance with the first resolution of Mr. Fitch, the committee associated with 

 themselves three distinguished architects, viz: Col. William Turnbull, of the United 

 States topographical engineers; Edward B. White, Esq., of Charleston, South Caro- 

 lina; and John It. Niernsee, Esq., of Baltimore, Maryland. These gentlemen were 

 highly recommended as practical architects and engineers, of established reputation, 

 and the committee have full confidence in their experience, judgment and integrity. 



The committee are indebted to the Hon. Alexander Evans, of Maryland, for an 

 examination of the building, with reference to a comparison of the different reports; 

 and to Mr. Joel Downer, for an additional inspection and opinion as to the character 

 of the timber and wood-work. In accordance with the second resolution of Mr. Fitch, 

 they have also taken legal advice as to several points of the contract. 



After a careful study of the reports of the contractor, superintendent, Mr. Eonwick, 

 the commission of architects, and of Mr. Evans, also the written opinion of their 

 legal adviser, the committee have unanimously arrived at the following conclusions, 

 which they respectfully submit for the consideration and action of the Board : 



1. That the workmanship of the cut-stone of the exterior is good, and the masonry 

 generally, though in some respects not of the best quality, is of a passable character 

 with reference to the terms of the contract. 



2. That the interior of the main building is defective in the kind of materials orig- 

 inally adopted, and to a considerable degree in the quality of the materials employed. 

 These consist principally of wood, and are not of a proper character for a building 

 intended to contain valuable deposits, many of which will be donations to the insti- 

 tution, presented with the implied condition that they are to be properly secured 

 against danger from fire. This mode of construction was probably adopted by tbe 

 original Building Committee, in order to lessen the cost of the edifice, and to bring it 

 within the sum appropriated by the Board. 



3. Although the committee are anxious to save the accrued interest, and to devote 

 it to objects more in accordance with the spirit of the original bequest than the erec- 

 tion of a costly building; yet, they would recommend that the interior work of the 

 centre building, as now existing, bo removed, and that there be substituted for it a fire- 

 proof structure, in accordance with the plan recommended in the reports of Mr. Ren- 

 wick, and of the commission of architects. 



4. The completion of the building on this plan, according to the estimate of the 



