REPORTS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 483 



the Institution in September, 1846, by nearly $16,000, subject, however, to a few 

 outstanding accounts not yet presented, estimated at $7,500. 



The committee are confident that, by continuing the system of finance recom- 

 mended by the committee and adopted by the Board of Kegents at their last annual 

 session, the building can be completed and the Institution be put into full operation 

 at the end of three years from March next, without withdrawing more than $100,000 

 from the fund of $242,129 set apart by Congress for buildings, &c, leaving the resi- 

 due, $142,000, to be added to the amount of the original bequest of Smithson, and 

 making the permanent fund of the Institution $657,000, yielding an annual income 

 of $39,420, (which may thereafter be readily increased to $40,000 per annum,) for the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge. 



During the past year the committee has held frequent meetings at the call of the 

 Secretary, for consultation with that ofiicer on the affairs of the Institution. The 

 several operations mentioned in the Secretary's report were discussed at these meet- 

 ings, and several small appropriations were authorized, which arose from contingen- 

 cies unforeseen by the Board, and which were duly charged and exhibited in the 

 accounts of the committee. The Board of Kegents having authorized the Executive 

 Committee to make compensation to the Assistant Secretary, acting as Librarian, for 

 his services to the Building Committee, and relative to the library, have granted him 

 the sum of $250. 



An extra edition of the Secretary's report for the year 1847, was ordered to be 

 printed, for the use of the Board of Kegents, from the forms used by the printer for 

 Congress. 



Mr. Bache and the Secretary were appointed a committee to confer with Dr. Hare, 

 relative to the presentation of his extensive and valuable chemical apparatus to the 

 Institution ; which committee afterwards reported that Dr. Hare had unconditionally 

 presented his apparatus to the Institution, and that workmen had been employed to 

 clean and pack the same for removal to Washington. A complete set of the "An- 

 nales de Chimie" was authorized to be purchased of Dr. Hare, to accompany his 

 apparatus. 



The Secretary was authorized to order, conditionally, the instruments necessary to 

 complete the outfits of Lieutenant Gilliss, of the Navy, on his scientific expedition 

 to Chile. 



A number of propositions relative to publications, researches, &c, have been sub- 

 mitted to the Executive Committee, and have been referred to the Secretary and Dr. 

 Bache. 



On consultation with the Secretary and Librarian, the committee recommends the 

 following appropriations for the operations of the Institution during the year com- 

 mencing on the 19th of March next, viz : 



Por publication of Contributions to Knowledge $3,000 00 



Scientific researches and computations 700 00 



Meteorological instruments and researches 1,000 00 



Expenses of public lectures, including lights 500 00 



Publication of scientific reports 500 00 



General catalogue of American Libraries 1,000 00 



Purchase of bibliographical works and books of general reference 2,000 00 



Binding of books, blank books, stamps, certificates, &c 250 00 



Purchase of books, needed by authors of memoirs, reports, &c 400 00 



General expenses, including salaries of officers, expenses of Board and 



committees, clerk-hire, postage, &c 8,000 00 



$17,350 00 



The aggregate of the above estimates exceeds, by the sum of $2,350, the amount 

 limited by the finance resolutions of the Board of Regents, December 1, 1847, as 

 applicable each year for the operation of the Institution, exclusive of the building 

 fund, until the year 1852, when the building is to be completed and the entire income 

 of the Institution left free for the prosecution of the objects contemplated by the 

 acts establishing the Institution ; but as the present available funds exceed the 

 amount anticipated when these resolutions were adopted, it is believed that the addi- 

 ditional $2,350 may be spared in the ensuing year for the objects specified, without 

 trenching on the annual building fund, or endangering the accomplishment of the 

 end had in view by the Board of Regents in adopting the finance resolutions of De- 

 cember 1, 1847, namely: the saving of a certain sum to be added to the permanent 



