98 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



Mr. Meacham, at the meeting of the Board, January 28, 1854 r 

 reported the following resolution, and stated that a full report on 

 the general subject would be made hereafter : 



Resolved, That the Executive Committee and the Secretary of the Institution he 

 instructed to submit to the Board of Eegents, at the commencement of each and every 

 year, an estimate, in detail, of all sums which will be required for the expenses of 

 the current year, as a basis for specific appropriations to be made by the Board. 



On motion, the resolution was adopted. 



The Secretary stated to the Board that a memorial and resolu- 

 tion, relative to funding $150,000 in the Treasury of the United 

 States, had been submitted by Hon. Joseph R. Chandler to the 

 House of Representatives, and had been referred to the committee 

 previously appointed by the House to consider the expediency of 

 withdrawing the Smithsonian fund from the Treasury of the United 

 States and investing it in some safe stock. 



The Special Committee, to which was referred the subject of 

 payment to Gilbert Cameron of the money due him which had 

 been kept back on account of a law-suit between him and one of 

 the sub-contractors, reported that they had " examined the question 

 referred to them, and were of the opinion that the balance due 

 Gilbert Cameron should be paid to him, and direct accordingly." 



The Secretary stated that, in accordance with this direction, he 

 had paid Mr. Cameron $10,000, but had reserved a part of the 

 money until the account could be critically examined. 



A memorial from the American Philosophical Society to the 

 Congress of the United States, praying " that the President of the 

 United States should be authorized to enter into such correspond- 

 ence with the Government of Great Britain, as may secure, in a 

 reasonable time, a proper uniformity of coinage, in the mode that 

 may be found most discreet and convenient," was laid before the 

 Board for its co-operation and approval. 



On motion of Mr. Mason., the subject was referred to the Execu- 

 tive Committee. 



A communication was read from Mr. J. R. Lambdin, President 

 of the American Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, recommend- 

 ing that the Smithsonian Institution should procure moulds from 

 the best and most useful specimens of the collection in the British 

 Museum, known as the Elgin Marbles, and that, from these moulds, 

 casts should be produced and sold at cost to such academies of art,. 

 &c, as may desire their possession. 



On motion of Mr. Mason, this subject was referred to the Execu- 

 tive Committee. 





