464 JOURNAL OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



EIGHTEENTH MEETING. 



August 10, 1848. 



Present, Mr. Seaton, (Chairman); and, by invitation, Mr. Marsh, 

 Colonel Totten, and Colonel Davis. 



The Secretary presented the following subjects for consideration 

 and advice, viz : 



First. A proposition of Mr. G. Nye, to sell rf collection of pictures of the old mas- 

 ters to the Institution ; which purchase was not regarded as coming within the au- 

 thority of the committee. 



Second. Kequest of Mr. Skinner, that the Institution purchase of him the Farmer's 

 Library, (three volumes,) and Journal of Agriculture, (three volumes) ; which was 

 agreed to. 



Third. First volume of Contributions through the press ; can be bound in cloth 

 for 35 cents per volume. (It was ordered that they be so bound.) 



Fourth. Proposed to distribute the volume — first, to colleges ; second, to learned 

 societies ; third, to certain individuals. 



On motion — 



Resolved, That the distribution be left to the discretion of the Secretary. 



Fifth. Proposed to send circulars with the volumes, asking colleges and institutions 

 for catalogues of libraries, histories, and other documents relative to institutions. 



Sixth. Second volume of contributions will probably be commenced in the course 

 of the present year. Professor Jewett will superintend the press. 



Seventh. Proposition of Mr. Stevens to prepare a bibliographical account of all 

 books relative to America, previous to 1700 ; to be published as a part of the Smith- 

 sonian Contributions to Knowledge. 



The Secretary read answers to letters which he had addressed to 

 different individuals on the subject. These answers were highly 

 commendatory of the plan. 



The Secretary had given opinion that the work would be adopted 

 for publication after having been approved by a commission ap- 

 pointed to examine it. 



Eighth. Dr. Hare had unconditionally presented his apparatus to the Institution. 

 The Secretary had employed workmen to polish, repair, and pack the same. The ar- 

 ticles will fill a canal boat. 



Ninth. Proposition to purchase from Dr. Hare a complete set of " Annales de Chi- 

 mie," to accompany the apparatus. Agreed to. 



Tenth. Proposition to pay Dr. Hare's expenses when in "Washington, he having 

 come on to meet the committee. Expenses about twenty dollars. Agreed to. 



Eleventh. The Secretary reported that Mr. Trist had presented the paper-holding 

 press, which he employed in his agency to Mexico. A very convenient article, and 

 very acceptable, independently of its historic associations. 



Twelfth. Also, that Mr. Irwin had presented a bust of Thorwaldsen, in bronze, two 

 volumes of Etchings, and a pamphlet by Professor Abraham, of the University of 

 Copenhagen. Also a copy of a rare edition of the Bible. 



Thirteenth. The Secretary gave an account of the progress of the system of mete- 

 orology. Mr. Espy has been re-appointed United States Meteorologist — agreement 

 with him to co-operate with the Institution. The Secretary of the Navy had agreed 

 to assign Mr. Espy to the direction of the Institution. 



