294 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



At aiiotlier meeting?, Augusts, 1842, a report* was made by tins com- 

 mittee iu wliicli tliey proposed to institute an annual scientific conven- 

 tion at Washington, during the session of Congress, and under the 

 auspices of the institution, and also recommended an extensive system 

 of exchange of specimens for the benefit of the museum. 



At the meeting of September 12, 1842, Mr. Poinsett, the president, 

 proposed a series of resolutions t intended to put the recommendation 

 of the report into effect. 



All of these resolutions and reports were issued in the form of circu- 

 lars (October 15, 1842, and February 24, 1843), but the appeals "to the 

 liberality and public spirit of our countrymen," were without avail. 



Consequently a special meeting of the board of management was held 

 December 23, 1843, at the office of the Se(;retary of State. That the 

 society was regarded at that time as one of national importance is shown 

 by the presence at the meeting of Mr. Upshur, the Secretary of State, 

 who took an active part in the i)roceedings 5 the Hon. John Quincy 



* The committee appointed to devise and execute such measures as should be 

 deemed expedient to obtain contributions and other aid to tlie Institute would nialve 

 an informal report. 



They i^ropose making an appeal to the public, by disseminating an account of the 

 Institute, its past efforts, its condition, and its prosjiects, and an exhibition of the 

 many reasons why it should be sustained and encouraged by the citizens of the 

 United States. In their judgment the best means of doing this will be the publi- 

 cation of the remarks addressed to the Institute by the Hon. Mr. Preston, Senator 

 from South Carolina, on the evening of the 13th of June last. 



They also propose to address circulars to prominent individuals in the dift'ereut 

 States, inviting their cooperation, particularly in receiving and transmitting con- 

 tributions. 



They recommend that the Institute authorize the president and secretaries to 

 sanction their circulars by their official signatures. 



They ijropose that a meeting of the learned men of our country, distinguished for 

 their attainments in the different sciences, particularly in those termed physical, 

 should be held annually at the seat of the General Government, at some early period 

 of the session of Congress, under the auspices of the Institute, to communicate the 

 results of their inquiries, to compare their oliservations, and to promote the general 

 interests of science. It has seemed to the committee that this Institute affords an 

 opportunity, which ought not to be neglected, of concentrating the genius and 

 learning of our country at a common center, from which the beams of intelligence 

 will radiate to gladden and bless the land. 



They recommend that, in addition to the powers already conferred, the committee 

 be authorized to make arrangements for such a meeting, at a day as early as may be 

 found practicable, and to invite the attendance of those who desire to participate in 

 its proceedings. 



They think that a system of exchanges of mineral and geological sjiecimens, and 

 perhaps of other articles, with the private and public collections in different parts 

 of the Union, may be established with reciprocal advantage; and that the Museum 

 of this Institute may, by these and other means, be enabled in time to exhibit the 

 various treasures of our different soils ; and they would suggest the appointment of 

 a committee to whom this subject showld be given s})ecially in charge. — Proc. Nat- 

 Inst., I, 335. 



tProc. Nat. Inst., i, 330. 



