PROCEEDINGS OP THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 235 



The Secretary stated that, immediately after the occurrence of the accident, 

 lie had applied to the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, for aid in constructing a 

 temporary roof to protect the building and its contents from the weather. The 

 Secretary of War expressed his willingness to grant this, provided the Presi- 

 dent gave his sanction, and the expense should be refunded to the department. 

 The latter was promised on the part of the Institution by the Secretary, after 

 •consultation with the Chancellor. The President readily gave his consent to 

 the proposition, and General Rucker, of the Quartermaster's Department, 

 furnished the materials, and detailed a large force of carpenters and laborers, 

 under the direction of Mr. E. Clark, to erect a temporary roof, which would be 

 sufficient to protect the building from storms, and would not interfere with the 

 construction of a permanent covering. 



At the suggestion of the Chancellor, it was 



Resolved, That the measures which had been taken by the Secretary be 

 approved. 



Mr. Patterson informed the Board that the House of Representatives had 

 adopted, on the motion of Hon. Mr. Rice, a resolution directing the Committee 

 on Public Buildings and Grounds to inquire into the origin of the fire, the ap- 

 proximate loss to the government and private persons, the means necessary to 

 preserve the remaining portions, &c. 



The Chancellor remarked that it would be proper that a joint committee 

 should be appointed, to be composed of members of the Senate, of the House of 

 Representatives, and of this Board, to take the whole subject into consideration. 



In anticipation of this, however, it was thought advisable that a special com- 

 mittee should be appointed to report directly to the Board; and, on motion of 

 Mr. Wallach, it was 



Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the origin of the fire, 

 to ascertain the extent and character of 1 he loss sustained, and to make sugges- 

 tions as to what measures should be adopted for the repair and improvement of 

 the building. 



The Chancellor appointed the mover of the resolution Mr. Wallach, and the 

 Secretary, as the committee. 



The Board having examined the building, adjourned, to meet on Thursday 

 evening at 7£ o'clock p. m. 



Washington, February 2, 1865. 



A meeting of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution was held 

 at 8 o'clock p. m. at the residence of one of the Regents, Hon. R. Wallach, 

 Mayor of Washington. Present : Hon. H. Hamlin, Hon. G. Davis, Hon. J. 

 W. Patterson, Hon. S. S. Cox, Hon. R. Wallach, and the Secretary, Professor 

 Henry, and, by invitation, Hon. J. H. Rice, chairman of the Committee on 

 Public Buildings of the House of Representatives. 



Mr. Hamlin was called to the chair. 



