PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 323 



and illustrating our industrial resources, as well as of facilitating the study of 

 the relations of our geology, mineralogy, flora and fauna, to those of the Old 

 World. But the benefit of such an establishment is principally confined to this 

 country, and does not partake of the cosmopolitan character of an institution 

 such as Smithson intended to found, and therefore ought not to be supported 

 from his bequest. 



The Board of Regents are confident that upon a full consideration of the case, 

 your honorable body will grant an adequate support for the collections of the 

 government, and also an appropriation for finishing the repairs of the building, 

 and eventually, when the financial condition of the country will permit, for the 

 independent maintenance of a national museum. 



It may not be improper, in addition to what has been said, to recall the fact 

 that the Smithsonian Institution has transferred, without cost, to the library of 

 Congress, one of the most valuable and complete collections of the transactions 

 of scientific and learned societies and serial publications in existence, consisting 

 of at least 50,000 works, which, with the annual continuations of the same 

 series, must render Washington a centre of scientific knowledge, and the library 

 itself worthy of the nation ; and that it has also presented to the government its 

 valuable collection of specimens of art, illustrating the history of engraving 

 from the earliest periods. It is prepared to render a similar service to a national 

 museum, by the exchanges from foreign museums to which it has been a liberal 

 contributor, and which may be obtained as soon as means* are provided for their 

 transportation and accommodation. 



It may also be mentioned that the Institution has rendered important service 

 to the government through the scientific investigations it has made in connection 

 with the operations of the different departments, and it is not too much to say 

 that, through the labors of its officers, it has been the means of saving millions 

 of dollars to the national treasury. 



In conclusion, your memorialists beg leave to represent, on behalf of the 

 Board of Regents, that the usual annual appropriation of $4,000 is wholly 

 inadequate to the cost of preparing, preserving, and exhibiting the specimens, 

 the actual expenditure for that purpose in 1867 having been over $12,000 ; and 

 they take the liberty of respectfully urging on your honorable body the expe- 

 diency of increasing it to $10,000, and that a further sum of $25,000 be appro- 

 priated at this session of Congress towards the completion of the hall required 

 for the government collections. 



And your memorialists will ever pray, &c. 



S. P. CHASE, 

 Chancellor Smithsonian Institution. 



JOSEPH HENRY, 

 Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



On motion, the action of the Chancellor and Secretary in relation to the 

 memorial was approved. 



The Secretary gave an account of the correspondence of the Institution, and 

 as an illustration of its diversified character read the letters which had been 

 received that day. 



On motion of Mr. Maclean, the annual report of the Secretary was accepted, 

 and the officers of the Institution authorized to transmit it to Congress. 



A motion of Mr. Wallach, in behalf of the Executive Committee, to increase 

 the salary of the Secretary, was referred back to the same Committee, with 

 instructions to make a report on the whole subject of the compensation of the 

 officers of the Institution at the next meeting. 



Adjourned, to meet at the call of the Secretary. 



