226 CONGRESSIONAL PKOCEEDINOS. 



March 29. 1842— House. 



Mr. Charles J. Incieksoll presented a memorial of Richard Rush, 



praying additional compensation for his services in recovering the 



Smithsonian legacy- 

 Referred to the committee on the bequest. 

 Mr. J. Q. Adams presented a petition of B. Birdsall, of the State 



of New York. 



The following is the petition: 



Your petitioner prays that a part of the fundus of the " Bmithsonian bequest" may be 

 appropriated for the purpose of estabhshing and awarding a system of annual prizes 

 for the best original essays on the various subjects of the physical sciences, useful 

 arts, and abstract mathematics, etc., and for such new discoveries in art or science 

 as shall do honor to the nation; the subjects of the prizes to be given or proposed by 

 a competent committee. 



Your petitioner entertains the opinion that some such system as the one prayed 

 for would exert a most powerful influence in favor of science in this country, and 

 would operate as an excellent stimulant to those who are disposed to honor their 

 country in cultivating and promoting those branches of useful science which serve 

 to work out the distinction between the sa\age and civilized state. 



For this your petitioner most respectfully prays. 



B: Birdsall. 



Clinton, Fehraunj 9, 1842. 



Referred to the committee on the bequest. 

 April 11, 1842— Senate. 



Mr. W. C. Preston, from the Counnittee on the Library, reported 

 a bill (S. 224) to invest the proceeds of the Smithsonian fund, and to 

 establish the Smithsonian Institution, 



Read and passed to a second reading. 



April 12, 1842— House. 



Mr. J. Q. Adams, from the committee appointed December 10, 

 184:1, made the following report, accompanied by a bill (H. 386), 

 which was read the first and second time and committed to the Com- 

 mittee of the Whole House on the state of the Union: 



The seventh year is already considerably advanced in its course 

 since the then President of the United States, on the 17th of Decem- 

 ber, 1835, communicated, by message, to both Houses of Congress 

 the fact of this bequest, with a copy of the will of James Smithson, 

 in which it was contained; and .with the remark that, the Executive 

 having no authority to take any steps for accepting the trust, and 

 obtaining the funds, the papers were communicated with a view to 

 such measures as Congress might deem necessary. 



This message, with its accompanying correspondence and vouchers, 

 was referred in the Senate to their Committee on the Judiciary, and 

 in the House of Representatives to a select committee of nine mem- 

 bers, both of which committees reported in favor of the acceptance 

 b}?^ Congress of the be(|uest, and of assuming, for the people of the 

 United States, the solemn obligation of preserving inviolate the fund 



