118 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



Mr. Pearce's resolutions offered at the last meeting on Saturday 

 were then taken up. 



The question being taken on the first resolution, it was adopted. 



YEAS — The Chancellor, Koger B. Tanev, Messrs. Bache, Berrien, Hawley, Mason, 

 Pearce, Rush, Totten— 8. 



NAYS — Messrs. Douglas, Towers — 2. 



The second resolution was then taken up and adopted. 



YEAS — The Chancellor, Roger B. Taney, Messrs. Bache, Berrien, Hawley, Mason, 

 Pearce, Rush, Totten — 8. 



NAYS — Messrs. Douglas, Towers — 2. 



On motion of Mr. Rush, Mr. John T. Towers was elected to fill 

 the vacancy in the Building Committee. 



The report of the Executive Committee, making estimates of ap- 

 propriations for the year 1855, &c, was then taken up and adopted. 



On motion of General Totten, the following resolution was 

 adopted : 



Resolved, That in case the sum required for the completion of the Smithsonian 

 building should exceed the amount appropriated for the same, that the Building Com- 

 mittee have authority to pay for any unavoidable excess out of funds on deposit to 

 the credit of the institution. 



The report of the Building Committee was then read, and on 

 motion adopted. 



A memorial and printed pamphlet from John Lord, of Portland, 

 Maine, was read and ordered to lie on the table. 



The Board then adjourned to meet on Saturday, January 27, at 

 10 o'clock, a. m. 



January 27, 1855. f 



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

 nian Institution was held on Saturday, January 27, 1855, in the 

 Regents' room. 



Present, the Chancellor, Roger B. Taney, Messrs. Bache, Pearce, 

 Stuart, Towers, Totten. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 



The following communication was read : 



House of Representatives, Washington, January 2G, 1855. 



Sir: I am instructed by the Special Committee of the House of Representatives, 

 raised in conformity with the accompanying resolution, to request you to inform the 

 Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution that the committee is ready to pro- 

 ceed to the discharge of its duties — and that any communication the Board may think 

 proper to make will be most respectfully entertained. 



The committee will meet on Thursday, February 1, at. half past 7 o'clock, p. m., in 

 the rooms of the Hon. W. H. Witte, at the National Hotel. 



The presence of an authorized representation of the Board, during the investiga- 



