JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 135 



beautifully illuminated ; whilst many of the pages are adorned with flowers culled 

 from the spots which the drawings represent. 



Miss Contaxaki is the sole originator and authoress of it, assisted in its execution by 

 native artists of Greece. The beauty of the finish, and the faithfulness and accuracy 

 of the quotations from Hesiod, Homer, Xenophon, Plato, and others, show that the 

 present sons and daughters of the renowned ancient city of Minerva are not insensi- 

 ble of the glory that was once attached to her name, nor incapable of appreciating 

 those monuments of art, science, and literature, which still survive. 



Feeling assured that, as an eminent classical scholar, you will fully appreciate the 

 worth of the Classical Bouquet, I beg to present it, through you, to the Smithsonian 

 Institution, in her name. 



With sentiments of the highest respect, I remain your obedient servant, 



CHAKLES S. SPENCE. 



Hon. Lewis Cass, 



Secretary of State. 



Washington City, November 25, 1857. 

 Sir : I send you herewith a splendid album, together with a letter from Mr. Spence, 

 explanatory of the circumstances of its execution and transmission to this country. I 

 perform the duty of presenting it to the Smithsonian Institution with great pleasure, 

 for it is a finished specimen of taste and art, worthy of a prominent place in your in- 

 teresting collection. Mr. Spence has so well described it, that any further reference 

 to it on my part is unnecessary. 



I am, dear sir, respectfully yours, 



LEWIS CASS. 

 Prof. Henry, 



Smithsonian Institution, Washington City. 



On motion, the work was referred to Professor Felton, to report 

 a resolution expressive of the high appreciation of the gift on the 

 part of the Board, and a letter of acknowledgement to Miss Con- 

 taxaki. 



A letter was read from Sir George Simpson, expressing the desire 

 and intention of the agents of the Hudson's Bay Company to co- 

 operate with the Smithsonian Institution in procuring specimens of 

 natural history, and in the prosecution of scientific researches. 



The Board then adjourned to meet on Saturday, 30th instant, at 

 11 o'clock, a. m. 



January 30, 1858. 



The Board of Regents met this day in the hall of the institution, 

 at 11 o'clock, a. m. 



Present, Hon. J. C. Breckinridge, Vice-President of the United 

 States, Hon. J. A. Pearce, Hon. J. M. Mason, Hon. S. A. Douglas, 

 Hon. W. H. English, Professor A. D. Bache, Professor C. C. Felton, 

 Mr. Seaton, Treasurer, and the Secretary. 



The Vice-President took the chair. 



The minutes were then read and approved. 



The minutes of the last meeting of the "Establishment" were 

 read for information, according to the by-laws of that body. 



The Secretary stated to the Board the action of Congress at its 

 last session, relative to the construction of cases in the Smithsonian 



