674 REPORTS OP THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 



The communication of "William McPeak, laid on the table on the 11th instant 

 being called up, it was — 



Ordered, That William McPeak be re-engaged as messenger, to commence from 

 the 7th instant, at six dollars per week. 



Mr. French, Masonic Grand Master of the District of Columbia, appeared before 

 the committee, and expressed, on behalf of the Grand Lodge of the District of 

 Columbia, their willingness to assist in laying the corner-stone of the Smithsonian 

 Institution with Masonic ceremonies, 



On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was — 



Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia be invited, in con- 

 nection with any other Masonic lodges who may unite with them, to aid in laying 

 the corner-stone of the Smithsonian Institution ; and that Saturday, the first day of 

 May, be recommended as a suitable day for that purpose. 



Resolved, That Mr. Owen be a committee to wait upon the President of the United 

 States and invite him, as head of the corporation, to lay the said foundation-stone; 

 and also to wait upon the Vice-President of the United States and invite his presence, 

 as Chancellor of the Institution, to deliver a brief address on said occasion. 



Resolved, That Mr. Seaton be authorized to pay any incidental expenses that may 

 be necessarily incurred on said occasion. 



Resolved, That the contractor be requested to prepare a suitable corner-stone. 



Mr. Owen expressed to the committee his intention — as Colonel Totten has 

 returned, and a quorum could thus be obtained without him — of returning, within a 

 few days, home to Indiana ; and his regret that, in consequence, he would not b& 

 able to be present at the proposed ceremony. 



And, on motion, the committee adjourned. 



Twenty-Seventh Meeting, April 15, 1847. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton and Owen. 



The chairman presented a contract with Captain Buckingham to convey water to 

 the building site, which, in accordance with the resolution of yesterday, he had pre- 

 pared and had submitted to Captain Buckingham and to Colonel Totten ; both of 

 whom had signified their approbation of it, and Colonel Totten had signed it. 



It was approved and signed. It is as follows : 



This agreement, made the fifteenth day of April, 1847, between Caleb Bucking- 

 ham, of the city of Washington, of the first part, and the Building Committee of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, of the second part, witnesseth : 



That for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred and fifty dollars, to be by 

 the party of the second part paid to the party of the first part, as hereinafter pro- 

 vided, the said party of the first part agrees to furnish all the necessary materials of 

 the best quality, and all the necessary work, to be done in the best and most sub- 

 stantial manner, to conduct the water from the fire-plug at the engine house, in 

 Market square, in the said city, to the building about to be erected for the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, on the mall, between 9th and 12th streets. And the party of the 

 first part agrees, that he will lay down a leaden pipe of inch-bore, and of the quality 

 called "strong pipe," at least two feet below the ground; and he will furnish the 

 same with a stop-cock of the best quality, at the end where the said fire plug is 

 tapped; and also a hydrant cock of the best quality at the end of the pipe next to 

 the building. And the said party of the first part further agrees that he will convey 

 the water across the canal in an iron pipe of two-inch bore, and of the best quality'; 

 which iron pipe shall be sunk below the bed of the canal. And the said party of 

 the first part agrees, that he will conduct the said leaden pipe so as to terminate at 

 any point, not more than fifty feet from the foundations of the building, that may 

 be pointed out by the architect or superintendent of the Institution. 



And the said party of the first part further agrees, that he will complete the lay- 

 ing of the said pipe, with its appurtenances, so that water can be used from the 

 same one month from the date of this agreement. 



And the party of the second part agree, that so soon as the said work shall have 

 been completed to the entire satisfaction of the architect or superintendent of the 

 said Institution, and the said architect or superintendent shall have certified that 

 fact to the parties of the second part, the said parties of the second part will pay to 

 the said party of the first part the above sum of six hundred and fifty dollars. In 

 testimony whereof, the said party of the first part has hereunto set his hand and 



