2Sfci PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



The minutes of the meetings held on the 9th, 19th, and 28th of January 

 were read and approved. 



Mr. Wallach presented the report of the Executive Committee for the year 1864, 

 which was read and adopted. 



The Secretary stated that, in accordance with the instructions of the Board- 

 he had renewed the inquiry to the Secretary of the Treasury whether the interest 

 of the Smithsonian fund ought not to be paid in coin or its equivalent, but had 

 not yet received a reply, it having been referred to the Solicitor of the Treasury 

 tor a legal opinion. 



On motion of Mr. Davis, it was 



Resolved, That if the Secretary of the Institution should ascertain that the 

 legal opinion of the Solicitor would be adverse to the application, that he should 

 request the Secretary of the Treasury to submit the question to Congress for 

 its action. 



Professor Henry presented the question as to the disposition of the residuary 

 legacy of Smithson which had been received from England, and was now on 

 deposit with the Treasurer of the United States. 



On motion of Mr. Patterson, it was 



Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to invest the money now on de- 

 posit with the Treasurer of the United States, derived from the residuary legacy 

 of James Smithson, in United States bonds bearing 7^ per cent, interest. 



Mr. Wallach presented the following report from the special committee ap- 

 pointed at the last meeting to inquire into the origin of the fire, &c, which was 

 read and adopted : 



REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF 

 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION RELATIVE TO THE FIRE. 



The special committee appointed by the Board at its meeting on January 28, 

 1865, to inquire into the origin of the fire at the Smithsonian Institution, to- 

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

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

 of the building, respectfully report that they have performed the duty assigned 

 them, so far as the time and their means of information would permit. 



I. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. 



The testimony has been taken of all persons connected with the establish- 

 ment that had any knowledge of the occurrence, and a written account of the 

 whole is herewith submitted ; also a report from Colonel B. S. Alexander, United 

 States army, who superintended the lire-proofing of the main building, of his 

 examination of the flues connected with the accident. 



It is evident, from the concurrent testimony thus obtained, that the fire com- 

 menced in the southwest part of the roof of the main building in the wood- 

 work immediately under the slate covering, and that it was kindled by the 

 heated air or sparks from a stove which had been temporarily placed in the 

 room immediately below. The pipe of this stove had been inserted, by mistake, 

 into a brick furring- spaco resembling a flue, which opened under the rafters in- 

 stead of into the chimney flue, within a few inches of the latter. By whom 

 the hole into which the pipe was inserted was originally made is not known, 

 but it is remembered that a stove-pipe was put into it as far back as 1854, at the 

 time of the exhibition held by the Mechanics' Institute in the building. No- 



