PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. XVII 



that we shall agree to accept on behalf of the nation the great benefit thus to be 

 bestowed upon the nation. 



I hope that the Regents of the Smithsonian will feel warranted to close with 

 the offer ; for they are the national guardians of such a collection. If in their 

 wisdom they do not see their way to accept the gift, I shall then be obliged to 

 take some other method of endeavoring to prevent the loss to the United States 

 (Government, and therefore to the people of the United States, of one of the most 

 valuable collections which any private individual has ever given to any people. 

 Sincerely yours, 



(Signed) Theouoke Roosevelt. 



Washington, I). ("., Ihrrmher 15, 1905. 

 To the President : 



Permit me to repeat my offer to bequeath my art collections to the Smith- 

 sonian Institution or to the United States Government, and also the sum of five 

 hundred thousand dollars in money for the purpose of constructing a suitable 

 building in which to house them, upon the following terms and conditions : 



First. The sum of five hundred thousajid dollars shall be paid by my executors 

 to the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution or the United States Government 

 promptly after my decease, and shall be used forthwith for the construction of a 

 fireproof building connected with the National Museum, the construction of 

 which has been recently authorized, or reasonably near thereto. 



Second. The interior of this building shall be arranged with special regard for 

 the convenience of students and others desirous of an opportunity for uninter- 

 rupted study. A suitable space shall be provided in which the Peacock Room 

 shall be reerected complete. The whole interior arrangement of the building 

 shall he agreed upon between the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution and 

 myself within a reasonable time after the acceptance of this offer. 



Third. The collections, with such additions thereto as shall be made during 

 my lifetime, shall be delivered by my executors to the Regents immediately after 

 the building is constructed and ready to receive them. 



Fourth. The collections aud the building shall be cared for and maintained 

 perpetually by the Smithsonian Institution or the United States Government at 

 its own expense. 



Fifth. No addition or deduction shall be made to the collections after my 

 death, and nothing else shall ever be exhibited with them, or in the same build- 

 ing, nor shall the said collections, or any part thereof, be removed at any time 

 from the said building except when necessary for the purpose of making repairs 

 or renovations in the building. 



Sixth. No charge shall ever be made for admission to the building or for the 

 privilege of examining or studying the collections. 



Seventh. The collections and building shall always bear my name in some 

 modest and appropriate form. 



In lieu of the foregoing offer, I am willing, upon the conditions above 

 expressed, to make a present conveyance of the title to said collections to the 

 Institution or the Government, and a bequest of the sum of five hundred thou- 

 sand dollars for the building, provided: 



1. The collections shall remain in my possession during my life, and in the 

 possession of my executors after my death until the completion of the building. 



2. I shall have the right to make such additions to the collections as may seem 

 to me advisable or necessary for the improvement of the collections, or any of 

 them. 



SM 1906 II 



