166 • BOARD OF REGENTS. 



February 16, 1861. 



The Board of Regents met this day, at 10 o'clock, a. m., in the 

 Regents' room. 



Present, Hon. James A. Pearce, Hon. James M. Mason, Hon. S. 

 A. Douglas, Hon. W. H. Euglish, Hon. Benjamin Stanton, General 

 Joseph G. Totten, Professor A. D. Bache, and the Secretary. 



Mr. Mason was called to the chair. 



The Secretary stated that there are at present three vacancies in 

 the Board of Regents, among the class of citizens at large, namely : 

 the vacancy occasioned by the expiration of the term of service of 

 Hon. Gideon Hawley, of Albany, who declines a re-election on 

 account of inability to attend ; that occasioned by the death of 

 Hon. Richard Rush ; and that by the expiration of the term of Dr. 

 C. C. Felton, of Harvard University ; and that a resolution was some- 

 time since presented to the Senate of the United States to till these 

 vacancies, which had not yet been acted upon. 



Mr. Pearce presented the report of the Executive Committee, 

 with the estimates for the year 1861 ; which was read and adopted. 



A communication addressed to the Secretary, relative to the 

 "Wynns estate was read. 



The Secretary stated that since the death of Hon. Richard Rush, 

 no communication had been received in regard to the remainder of 

 the Smithsonian bequest left in England, as the principal of an an- 

 nuity to the mother of the nephew of Smithson ; whereupon, on 

 motion of Mr. Bache, it was — 



Resolved, That the Secretary be requested to communicate with Messrs. Clarke, Fyn- 

 more & Fladgate, attorneys in London, informing them of the death of Hon. Mr. 

 Rush, and making inquiry as to the present condition of this annuity. 



On motion of Mr. English, it was — 



Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to adjust the accounts of the Regents for 

 travelling and other expenses, at each annual or special meeting, according to the pro- 

 visions of the act of organization. 



A letter was read relative to the debt of the State of Arkansas, 

 desiring the Regents to unite with other parties in endeavoring to 

 recover it. 



The Secretary stated that he had replied, giving as his individual 

 opinion that the Regents are in no way interested in this matter ; 

 the United States having assumed the debt originally due from the 

 State of Arkansas to the Smithsonian fund. 



On motion, it was — 



Resolved, That the Board concur in this opinion. 



A communication addressed to the Board, from H. A. Gaston, of 





