JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 165 



The Secretary presented the following letter from Mr. Ross, chief 

 factor of the Hudson's Bay Company : 



Fort Simpson, McKenzie's Eiver, 50th November, 1859. 



Dear Sir : At the period of the departure of our usual winter express I sit down 

 to write you a few lines upon the subjects mentioned in your communication of the 

 2d of April, 1859. I trust that the various cases sent you last summer from Portage 

 La Koche reached you in safety, and that the contents proved satisfactory and of in- 

 terest. It will be my endeavor during the present and succeeding seasons to collect 

 the animals mentioned as being wished for by the Smithsonian Institution, but I will 

 not merely restrict myself to these particular objects of research, the whole field of 

 either science or curiosity will be considered in all contributions which I may here- 

 after forward to your collection. 



The Meteorological Kegister for the months of September, October, and November, 

 will be forwarded by this conveyance, and I will endeavor to organize a systematic 

 series of observations at all the posts throughout this district. These, of course, will 

 vary as to completeness and accuracy according to the tastes and acquirements of the 

 officer who conducts the registry, as there are very wide differences in the education 

 and talents of the various persons in the progressive grades of our service. A series 

 of spirit thermometers of assured correctness would be useful, in fact are absolutely 

 necessary for this purpose. 



As my attention will hereafter be particularly directed to ethnological pursuits, 

 and my public duties in conducting the affairs of this large district are not very light, 

 it will be impossible to keep the regular series of meteorological observations here 

 myself, but I will delegate this duty to Mr. Andrew Mett, a very careful and intelli- 

 gent person, though not of a finished education ; but any extraordinary phenomena 

 I will note myself in addition. 



By the usual summer boats a packet will be forwarded to your address, containing 

 such observations as I can collect in our journals, and a complete auroral and weather 

 register taken by myself for Colonel Lcfroy in 1850-'51, if I can find the latter. 



In conclusion I will merely say that all that lies in my power will be done to oblige 

 you in any way. Every facility will be given to Mr. E. Kennicott to collect and for- 

 ward specimens of natural history ; free passage will be allowed him from post to post 

 throughout the district, and to all his plans the various officers under my command 

 will, 1, am sure, gladly render assistance. 



I have the honor to remain, dear sir, yours faithfully, 



BEENAED E. EOSS. 



Professor Henry, 



Smithsonian Institution. 



The reading of the report of the Secretary was then continued. 

 On motion of Mr. Badger, the following resolution was adopted : 



Resolved, That the thanks of the Board of Eegents are hereby given to the various 

 companies and individuals who have generouslj'- aided in advancing the objects of the 

 Smithsonian Institution and the promotion of science, by the facilities they have 

 afforded in the transportation of books, specimens, &c, free of charge. 



The Board then adjourned to meet at the call of the Secretary. 



January 16, 1861. 



In accordance with a resolution of the Board of Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, fixing the time of the beginning of their 

 annual session on the third Wednesday of January of each year, 

 the Board met this day in the Regents' room. 



No quorum being present, the Board adjourned to meet at the 

 call of the Secretary. 



