TWENTY-NINTH CONGEESS, 1845-1847. 429 



The bill was accordingly passed. 



Ordei'ed^ That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives 

 accordingly. 



Mr. George Evans (by unanimous consent) asked and obtained 

 leave to bring in a resolution, S. 37, appointing regents of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. Considered in Committee of the Whole. Passed. 



Mr. George Evans submitted resolution: 



Resolved {the House of Representatwes concurring) , That the sixteenth joint rule of 

 the two Houses be suspended, so far as it relates to a resokition (S. 37) appointing 

 regents of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to. 

 August 10, 1846. 



An act to establish the "Smithsonian Institution," for the increase and diffusion of 



knowledge among men. 



[As finally adopted and made a law.] 



James Smithson, esquire, of London, in the Kingdom of Great 

 Britain, having by his last will and testament given the whole of his 

 property to the United States of America, to found at Washington, 

 under the name of the "Smithsonian Institution," an establishment for 

 the increase and diffusion of knowledge among- men; and the United 

 States having, by an act of Congress, received said property and 

 accepted said trust; Therefore, for the faithful execution of said 

 trust, according to the will of the liberal and enlightened donor — 



JBe it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 

 States of America in Congress assemhled^ That the President and Vice- 

 President of the United States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary 

 of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, 

 the Postmaster-General, the Attorney-General, the Chief Justice, and 

 the Commissioner of the Patent Office of the United States, and the 

 mayor of the city of Washington, during the time for which they 

 shall hold their respective offices, and such other persons as they may 

 elect honorary members, be, and they are hereby constituted, an 

 "establishment," by the name of the "Smithsonian Institution," for 

 the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men; and by that name 

 shall be known and have perpetual succession, with the powers, lim- 

 itations, and restrictions, hereinafter contained, and no other. 



Sec. 2. And he it further enacted. That so much of the property of 

 the said James Smithson as has been received in money, and paid into 

 the treasury of the United States, being the sum of five hundred and 

 fifteen thousand one hundred and sixty-nine dollars, be lent to the 

 United States treasury at six per cent, per annum interest, from the 

 first day of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and 

 thirty-eight, when the same was received into the said treasurj^; and 

 that so much of the interest as may have accrued on said sum on the 

 first day of July next, which will amount to the sum of two hundred 



