70 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



of a foot bridge over the canal at Ninth or Tenth street^ at the ex- 

 pense of the corporation of the city of "Washington, for facilitating 

 the approach to the institution. He also stated that Mr. Ellet, the 

 engineer, had offered to superintend, free of charge, the erection of 

 a wire bridge at the place mentioned, and expressed his belief that 

 a bridge could be constructed during the present year. 



Mr. Seaton, the treasurer, presented a report of the moneys placed 

 to his credit on accouut of the institution, and the manner in which 

 they had been expended. At the request of Mr. Seaton, and on 

 motion of Mr. Davis, the report was referred to the Executive Com- 

 mittee for examination. 



The reading of the Secretary's report was then proceeded with, 

 including a statement relative to the foreign distribution of the 

 first volume of Smithsonian Contributions, and the method of keep- 

 / ing the account of the exchanges with foreign societies ; also an 

 account of the progress made in the operations relative to meteo- 

 rology. 



Specimens of the barometers, thermometers, rain gauges, and 

 wind vanes prepared for the Smithsonian observers, were exhibited 

 to the Board. 



The Board, on motion, then adjourned to meet on Saturday next, 

 18th instant, at 10 o'clock, a. m. 



January 18, 1851. 



The Board of Regents met this day at 10 o'clock, a. m. 



Present, Messrs. Bache, Colcock, Davis, Hilliard, Pearce, and 

 Rush. The Chancellor being absent, Mr. Pearce was called to the 

 chair. 



The proceedings of the last meeting were read. 



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

 detailed statement of all the expenditures from the beginning of 

 the institution to the end of the year 1850, classified according to 

 the programme of accounts before given. 



The Secretary stated, that in obedience to the instructions con- 

 tained in the resolutions of the Board adopted June 1, 1850, the 

 following petition relative to funding $150,000 of accrued interest 

 had been drawn up for presentation to Congress ; but owing to the 

 press of business of last session, and by the advice of the members 

 of the Board belonging to the Senate and House of Representatives, 

 it had not been presented up to the present time. 



Mr. Davis suggested that the petition be amended by inserting 



