526 REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 



The appropriation from Congress for the preservation of the collections of the 

 exploring and surveying expeditions of the United States has been expended, 

 as heretofore, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in assisting 

 to pay the expenses of extra assistants in the museum, and the cost of arrang- 

 ing and preserving the specimens. The sum received from this source has been 

 credited to the museum, and has served to diminish the amount of expenditures 

 for that object on the part of the Institution, although it has not been sufficient 

 to defray all the expenses on account of the preservation and public exhibition 

 of the specimens. 



The articles intrusted to the care of the Institution are in good condition, 

 and the work of the distribution of the duplicates of the government as well as 

 those of the Institution is still in progress. 



A part of the expenditure on the building is due to refitting the apparatus 

 room, and re-covering, with tin, the northern portion of the roof of the west con- 

 necting range which was blown off during the storm of February 24. 



From the foregoing statements it will appear that the financial affairs of the 

 Institution are still in a prosperous condition, and that the Board of Regents 

 could resign their trust to-day, with the undiminished original bequest of 

 Smithson in the treasury of the United States, with over one hundred thousand 

 dollars on hand or in secure investments, and with $66,000 in southern State 

 stocks, from which it is hoped at some future time interest may be received. 



The committee submit the following approximate estimates for the year 1863 



Estimated income $34, 666 lr 



ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE. 



For building, furniture, and fixtures $2,000 



For general expenses 10,500 



For publications, researches, and lectures 10,500 



For library, museum, and gallery of art 9,000 



$32,000 



The committee have carefully examined the books and accounts of the 

 Institution for the past year, and find them to be correct. 

 Respectfully submitted. 



JOS. G. TOTTEN. 



A. D. BACHE. 

 February, 1863. 



