116 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



TEAS — Messrs. Choate, Douglas, and Meacham — 3. 



NAYS — The Chancellor, Roger B. Taney, Messrs. Bache, Berrien, English, Haw- 

 ley, Mason, Pearce, Rush, Stuart, and Totten — 10. 



On motion of Mr. Pearce the following resolution was adopted : 



Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Chancellor to confer with 

 a Committee of the Establishment as to suitable means of communication between 

 the two bodies, and to report thereon at a subsequent meeting of the Regents. 



The Chancellor appointed Messrs. Mason, Douglas, and Totten. 



A communication from Gilbert A. Cameron was read; which, 

 on motion, was referred to the Building Committee. 



The treasurer then made a statement of the condition of the 

 finances of the institution ; which was referred to the Executive 

 Committee. 



The Board then adjourned to meet on Saturday, 18th January, at 

 10 o'clock. 



January 13, 1855. 



An adjourned meeting of the Board of Regents of the Smithso- 

 nian Institution was held on Saturday, January 13, at 10 o'clock, 

 a. m. 



Present, The Chancellor, Roger B. Taney, Messrs. Bache, Ber- 

 rien, Choate, English, Hawley, Mason, Meacham, Pearce, Rush, 

 Totten. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 



Mr. Pearce, in behalf of the Executive Committee, presented the 

 estimate of appropriations for the year 1855; which, on his motion, 

 was laid on the table for the present. 



Mr. Pearce, in behalf of the Executive Committee, presented the 

 following report in relation to the case of Mr. Blodget, which had 

 been referred to that committee by the Board : 



At a meeting of the Board of Regents held Saturday, July 8, 1854, the Executive 

 Committee was authorized to investigate and settle the business presented to the Board 

 by the Secretary, in reference to the adjustment of the claims of Mr. Lorin Blodget. 



The committee having investigated the matter referred to them, present the follow- 

 ing report in part: 



Mr. Blodget was employed by the Secretary of the Institution to aid him by such 

 labors in relation to the meteorological observations under the direction of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution as the Secretary might assign. The rates of compensation for these 

 services were fixed from time to time by the same officer, and Mr. Blodget is entitled 

 to no other compensation than that paid to him. His footing in the institution was 

 simply that of a temporary employee of the Secretary, in whose hands rested the de- 

 termination of his duties, pay, and duration of service. Employed and paid for these 

 services in connection with the meteorological operations, the fruits of his labors belong 

 exclusively to the institution. 



In addition to these payments the committee is prepared on receiving satisfactory 

 statements or vouchers from Mr. Blodget of reasonable expenses incurred during any 

 journeys he may have made with the consent of the Secretary for objects connected 

 with his duties in meteorology in the institution, to refund the amount, as also any 

 moneys which may appear to the satisfaction of the committee to have been paid out 

 by him and not already repaid for clerical or other services connected with the mete- 



