TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS, 1843-1845. 241 



discoveries of tlie exploring expedition, under the supervision and. 

 direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, $20,000. 

 (Stat., V, 645.) 



TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS, 1843-1845. 



BEQUEST OF JAMES SMITHSON. 



December 5, 1843 — Senate. 



Message of the President^ John Tylei\ 



* * * In connection with its other interests, as well as those of 

 the whole country, I recommend that at your present session you 

 adopt such measures, in order to carry into effect the Smithsonian 

 bequest, as in your judgment will be the best calculated to consum- 

 mate the liberal intent of the testator. * * ^•^ 

 December 15, 1843 — Senate. 



On motion of Mr. Rufus Choate, the message of the President was 

 referred to the Committee on the Librarj^ — Mr. Rufus Choate, Mr. 

 Benjamin Tappan, and Mr. John McP. Berrien. 

 January 2, 1844 — House. 



Mr. J. Q. Adams. presented resolution, and the rule requiring the 

 same to lie upon the table one day being dispensed with it was con- 

 sidered and agreed to: 



Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury l^e directed to report to this House the 

 present state and condition of the funds bequeathed by James Smithson to the United 

 States, for the establishment at the city of Washington of an institution for the increase 

 and diffusion of knowledge among men; with a statement of what payments of inter- 

 est have been received, and what, if any, have been refused or withheld on the State 

 stocks in which the said fimds were invested; the amount of interest so withheld or 

 refused to be paid; and what measures have l^een taken by the Secretary to recover 

 the same; also by whose agency the said investments were made; with copies of any 

 correspondence of the Treasury Department with such agents relating thereto. 



February 2, 1844 — House. 



Mr. Henry Williams presented a petition of Horatio C. Merriam, of 

 Massachusetts, that a portion of the Smithsonian bequest be applied to 

 promote agricultural education, that science being heretofore neglected 

 in the sj'stems of education in this country. Referred to the Com- 

 mittee on Agriculture. 

 February 19, 1844 — House. 



The Speaker laid before the House the following communication: 

 A letter from the Secretary of the Treasuiy, in answer to a resolu- 

 tion of the House of Representatives of the 3d of January last, trans- 

 mitting statements showing the present state and condition of the 

 funds bequeathed by James Smithson to the United States; the pay- 

 ments of interest that have been received, and what have been refused 

 or withheld on the State stocks in which the said funds were invested, 

 H. Doc. 732 16 



