72 BOAKD OF REGENTS. 



annuity payable to Madame de la Batut, mother of the nephew of 

 James Smithson. 



Mr. Rush gave an account of this annuity and stated that he had 

 left the business in the hands of attorneys, to whom he had written 

 in 1846. A copy of this correspondence was read, and Mr. Rush 

 was requested to communicate with the above mentioned persons 

 relative to this business. 



The reading of the Secretary's report was then continued, includ- 

 ing Professor Jewett's report on the library, illustrated by speci- 

 mens of a new plan of stereotyping catalogues of libraries by sepa- 

 rate titles. 



On motion, the Board adjourned to meet on Saturday, 25th instant, 

 at 10 o'clock, a. m. 



January 25, 1851. 

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

 Present, Messrs. Davis, Fitch, Lenox, Mason, Pearce and Taney. 

 The Chancellor occupied the chair. 

 The proceedings of the last meeting were read. 

 The reading of the Secretaiw's report was then continued, includ- 

 ing the report of Professor Baird on the Museum. 

 On motion of Mr. Davis, it was — 



Resolved, That the thanks of the Board he presented to Mr. Alexander Culbertson r 

 for the liberal aid rendered by him in procuring specimens of natural history for the- 

 institution ; also, to Messrs. Edward T. De-nig, Ferdinand Culb<?rt?on, and the oth^r 

 gentlemen of the American Fur Company mentioned in Professor Eaird's report for 

 similar services. 



The concluding portion of the Secretary's report was then read, 

 giving an account of the lectures which had been delivered, and 

 other miscellaneous operations. The Secretary then gave an 

 account of some experiments made with the Smithsonian apparatus 

 by Mr. Espy during the past } 7 ear, and the connection which has 

 existed between this gentleman and the institution. An appropri- 

 ation has been made for several years past by Congress for meteor- 

 ology, out of which Mr. Espy has been paid. The appropriation 

 was under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, who, in 

 1848, directed Mr. Espy to co-operate in his labors with the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. 



Mr. Lenox presented a communication from Mr. Seaton recom- 

 mending the placing of a bell in one of the towers of the Smithso- 

 nian building, and stating that a very valuable town clock could 

 probably be obtained from the Treasury Department. 



On motion of Mr. Fitch, it was — 



