TWENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, 1835-1837. 



BEQUEST OF JAMES SMITHSON. 



Message from the President of the United States. 



Washington, Decemher 17^ 1835. 

 To the Seriate and House of Representatives of the United States: 



I transmit to Congress a report from the Secretary of State, accom- 

 panying copies of certain papers^ relating to a bequest to the United 

 States by Mr. James Smithson, of London, for the purpose of found- 

 ing at Washington an establishment, under the name of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among 

 men." The Executive having no authority to take any steps for 

 accepting the trust and obtaining the funds, the papers are communi- 

 cated with a view to such measures as Congress may deem necessary. 



Andrew Jackson. 



December 21, 1835— Senate. 



The message of the President was read, and referred to Committee 

 on the Judiciary. 



December 21, 1835— House. 



The message of the President was received and read. 



Referred to a select committee, and Mr. John Quincj^ Adams, Mr. 

 Francis Thomas, Mr. James Garland of Virginia, Mr. Dutee J. 

 Pearce of Rhode Island, Mr. Jesse Speight, Mr. Thomas M. T. 

 McKennan, Mr. Edw. A. Hannegan, Mr. Rice Garland of Louisiana, 

 and Mr. Graham H. Chapin were appointed said committee. 



January 5, 1836 — Senate. 



Mr. B. F. Leigh, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to wnom 

 was referred the message of the President of the United States of 

 the 21st ultimo, relative to the bequest of the late James Smithson, 

 of London, made a report, accompanied by a joint resolution. 



The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the message 

 of the President of the 17th December last, transmitting to Congress 



i a report of the Secretary of State, accompanying copies of certain 

 papers relating to a bequest to the United States by Mr. James 

 Smithson, of London, for the purpose of founding, at Washington, 



^ For these papers see Correspondence, page 3. 



125 



