JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 89 



the best construction, now in the possession of the superintendent 



of the United States Coast Survey, would be furnished. 



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



Resolved, That a magnetic observatory be erected, under the supervision of the 

 Building Committee, at such place on the grounds of the institution as they may 

 select, and according to a plan to be approved by them, and that the sum of eleven 

 hundred dollars is hereby appropriated therefor. 



A communication from Captain Lefrov, R. A., was presented and 

 read, relative to the discontinuance of the maguetic observatory of 

 Toronto, Canada West ; referred to the Executive Committee and 

 the Secretary, who were requested to memorialize the British Gov- 

 ernment on the subject. 



The correspondence between the Secretary and Mrs. A. J. Down- 

 ing, upon the transmission of the resolutions of the Board upon 

 receiving information of the death of Mr. Downing, was read. 



The Secretary also informed the Board of the recent death of 

 Sears C. Walker, Esq., and of Prof. C. B. Adams, of Amherst Col- 

 lege, Massachusetts ; whereupon the following resolutions, ottered 

 by Mr. Bache, were adopted : 



Resolved, That the Eegents of the Smithsonian Institution have heard with deep 

 regret the announcement of the death of Sears C. Walker, Esq., whose communica- 

 tions in the Smithsonian Transactions on the planet Neptune have attracted the notice 

 and won the approval and admiration of astronomers throughout the world. 



Resolved., That the Eegents offer to the family of Mr. Walker their condolence on 

 the loss which they have sustained. 



Resolved, That the Eegents of the Smithsonian Institution have heard with regret of 

 the decease of their valued correspondent, Prof. C. B. Adams, which occurred at St. 

 Thomas, while he was engaged in making collections in natural history, to which 

 science he was devoted ; and offer to his family their condolence on the loss which 

 they have sustained. 



The Board then adjourned to meet on Saturda}-, the 12th instant, 



at 10 o'clock, a. m. 



February 12, 1853. 



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



Present, Messrs. Bache, Fitch, Maury, Meacham, and Pearce, of 

 the Board, and Washington Irving, honorary member. 



On motion, Mr. Pearce took the chair. 



The proceedings of the previous meeting were read and approved. 



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

 letter to be forwarded to the British Home and Colonial Govern- 

 ments, to urge the continuance of the Toronto observatory. 



The Secretary presented to the consideration of the Board the 

 necessity of making provision for the investment of the surplus 

 fund in the event of the petition now before Congress relative to it 

 not being acted on. 



The chair stated it to be the opinion of Mr. Corcoran, who had 



