234 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



The opinion was expressed by several members of tbe Board that the views 

 of Professor Agassiz were highly important, and believed to be such as were 

 entertained generally by the scientific men of tbe country, but in consideration 

 of the financial condition of the government, the present time was not favorable 

 for action in regard to them. 



On motion of Mr. Trumbull, the consideration of the subject was postponed 

 to the annual session to be held in January, I860. 



The Secretary stated that the question had arisen at a previous meeting of 

 the Board as to wbether the interest on the Smithsonian fund, permanently in 

 tbe treasury of the United States, ought not to be paid in coin, in common with 

 the interest on other trust funds in charge of the government ; that he had 

 addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury on this subject, but on 

 account of the large demands on the government for the prosecution of the war, 

 he had not pressed a decision of tbe question. 



On motion of Mr. Chase, it was 



Resolved, That tbe Secretary be instructed to renew the application to the 

 Treasury Department, in behalf of the Board, for the payment of the interest 

 in coin. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



Washington, January 19, 1865. 



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

 Institution, fixing the time of beginning of their annual session on the third 

 Wednesday of January in each year, a meeting was called for this day. 



No quorum being present, and the Secretary having stated that the book- 

 keeper had not yet been able to make up the annual accounts, the Board 

 adjourned, to meet at the call of the Secretary. 



Washington, January 28, 1S65. 



A meeting of the Board of Regents was held at 3 o'clock p. m. in the cast 

 wing of the Smithsonian building. Present: Hon. S. P. Chase, Hon. II. Ham- 

 lin, Hon. L. Trumbull, Hon. J. W. Patterson, Hon. R. Wallach, Mr. Seaton, 

 treasurer, and Professor Henry, Secretary. 



The Chancellor, Chief Justice Chase, took the chair. 



The Secretary stated that the principal object of this meeting was to officially 

 inform the Regents that, on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 24, a fire broke 

 out in the roof of the main building of the Smithsonian Institution, which de- 

 stroyed the principal part of the contents of the rooms in the upper story of the 

 building and the adjoining towers. The loss, however, did not include the large 

 library, the museum, with the government, collections and those of the Institu- 

 tion, the duplicate specimens intended for distribution, and the meteorological 

 records. • The accident would not, therefore, materially affect the essential opera- 

 tions of the Institution, which would be continued as usual. 



