690 REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 



Philadelphia, September 28, 1847. 



Hon. W. W. Seaton, 



Regent of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Sir : At sight pay to tny order two hundred and fifty dollars, being in full of pre- 

 mium awarded me as compensation for my design for the Institution, by the Board 

 of Eegents ; this being mv receipt in full for the same, as ordered. 



$250. JOHN NOTMAN. 



Mr. Seaton further stated to the committee that Mr. Notman requested the return 

 of his drawings, stating that " drawings are invariably returned, except the one pre- 

 ferred." 



On motion of Mr. Owen, it was — 



Resolved, That the request of Mr. Notman, for the return of his drawings, be 

 referred to the Board of Kegents at their next session. 



Mr. Seaton submitted from Mr. William Archer, of Washington, the following, 

 letter : 



Washington, August 27, 1847. 



Sir : I address you as a member of the Building Committee of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. It will be remembered the subscriber furnished a plan, specification, 

 and estimate of an edifice for the Institution. 



That plan was made to suit what was believed to be the object of the testator, and 

 according to the true meaning of the act of Congress — to " be of the best and most 

 durable materials, and fire-proof." That plan was received by the Building Com- 

 mittee, and taken by them to the eastern cities and shown to the artists, architects, 

 and builders, along with, and in contrast with, the plan of Dr. Owen. And as Dr. 

 Owen was paid for his plan, though not adopted, and as all the other architects that 

 copied from him were paid, surely I have the same if not a better right to be paid 

 than they, as both the committee and the architects had the benefit of my specifica- 

 tion and estimate for comparison, or to copy from. Therefore I hope the committee 

 will allow me the same consideration as the others. 



I am, with all due respect, your obedient servant, 



WILLIAM ARCHER. 



To W. W. Seaton, Esq., 



Building Committee Smithsonian Institution. 



Mr. Seaton was instructed to inform Mr. Archer, in reply to the above communi- 

 cation, that he is mistaken in supposing that Dr. Owen's plan was paid for; that 

 although the general internal arrangements of that plan were substantially adopted, 

 and though one of the present wings is a copy, somewhat modified, of the original 

 elevation submitted by him, (Dr. O.,) yet that he (Dr. O.) received no remuneration 

 whatever for his plans, they being considered, like Mr. Archer's, a voluntary oflering 

 to the Institution ; further, that no portion whatever of Mr. Archer's design, either 

 of its general plan or its elevation, had been adopted or copied, with or without 

 modifications ; and therefore, even if it be considered as submitted in competition 

 with the other plans, it stands but in the same situation as many others that were 

 returned to the respective architects without any remuneration ; and finally, that the 

 committee has no authority to award a premium or grant remuneration in this or 

 any similar case. 



The chairman submitted, as a memorandum regarding the condition of the build- 

 ing fund, a copy of a letter yesterday addressed by him to the Chancellor, as follows : 



Washington, October 17, 1847. 



My Dear Sir : I arrived here last evening from Baltimore, and called upon Mr. 

 Seaton this morning. He showed me a letter from you, in reply to a request of his 

 for a power of attorney to draw $7,500 of the funds of the Smithsonian Institution 

 to pay contractors, &c, for which same $7,500 you had previously, to wit: on the 

 4th instant, signed a requisition ; and he requested me to write to you, and comply 

 with your request to be furnished with a copy of such portion of the minutes of our 

 Board as gives authority to draw or apply this sum. 



I see you have forgotten how this matter of appropriation stands. Just previously 

 to the appointment of the Building Committee, to wit : on the 28th January last, the 

 Board passed resolutions that the said committee contract for the building at an 



amount not exceeding $210,000, with 10 per cent, added— say $231,000 



For warming and lighting the same 5,000 



For fitting up and furnishing the same 20,000 



For fencing the lot 10,000' 



and some other appropriations. 



