88 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



had been made by the Board, under similar circumstances, and 



which had been reimbursed to the institution. 



Mr. Rush offered the following resolution ; which was adopted : 



Resolved, That a sum not exceeding live hundred dollars be, and the same is here- 

 by, appropriated for the purchase of philosophical instruments to be used in the new- 

 expedition in search of Sir John Franklin in the Arctic seas, and which are to be 

 committed to the charge of Dr. E. K. Kane, of that expedition. 



The Secretary presented the application of the Rev. Mr. Denni- 

 son for the use of the lecture room for holding religious service 

 therein ; which was referred to the Secretary. 



The Secretary presented the case of Stanley's gallery of Indian 

 portraits, for which, if they should be purchased by the Govern- 

 ment, the use of the gallery of art was considered necessary as a 

 temporary place of deposit; also referred to the Secretary. 



The reading of the annual report was then continued, including 

 the report of Prof. Baird, Assistant Secretary, relative to exchanges. 



Mr. Mason expressed a desire .to resign his place as member of 

 the Executive Committee, which he had accepted with a view to 

 the reappointment of Mr. Bache as Regent, and his subsequent re- 

 election as a member of the Executive Committee. 



The resignation of Mr. Mason was accepted, and Mr. Bache re- 

 elected. 



A letter was presented from Gilbert Cameron, requesting, on 

 account of his reputation, to be allowed to finish the centre build- 

 ing, and claiming this privilege as a right under his general con- 

 tract ; referred to the Building Committee. 



The Board then adjourned to Thursday evening, February 3, at 

 U o'clock. 



'2 



February 3, 1853. 



The Board of Regents met this evening at 8 o'clock. 



Present, Messrs. Bache, Charlton, Colcock, Mason, Maury, Mea- 

 cham, and Totten, of the Board, and Washington Irving, honorary 

 member. • 



Mr. Mason took the chair. 



The proceedings of the previous meeting were read and approved. 



The Building Committee, to which was referred the letter of Mr. 

 Cameron relative to his right to the contract for finishing the centre 

 building, reported progress, and p resented a communication from 

 Mr. James M. Carlisle upon this subject ; which was then referred 

 back to the committee. 



The Secretary presented a plan of a building for a magnetic 

 observatory near the institution ; stating, also, that instruments of 



