THE GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 379 



Annexed to this memorial are variou.s documents, of which the fbnowing is a list: 



(1) Charter of Incorporation. 



(2) Constitution and By-Laws. 



(3) Abstract of Proceedings, comprising- the contributions, (h)nations. an<l deposits 

 made to the cabinet and library of the Institution since its foundation, with the 

 names of the contributors, donors, and depositors. 



(4) List of officers, and lionorary, resident, paying corresponding, and correspond- 

 ing meml>ers, and of the societies, institutions, etc., at home and abroad, In corre- 

 spondence with the National Institute. 



Peter Forci:, Fice- President. 



Fr.\nci8 Markoe, Jr., (Jori-csjjondhiff Secretary. 



.John K. Townsenu, Jiecordiuo Secretnrii. 



George W. Riggs. .Ir., Treasurer. 



■John C. Spencer. 



.John Nelson, 



WlIXlAM WiLKlNS. 

 C. A. WiCKLIFFE, 



Directors, ex-officio, ov ihepart of the (rovennnent. 

 Levi Woodbury. 

 R. J. Walker, 

 .r. .J. Ahert, 

 Joseph G. Totten. 

 A. O. Dayton, 

 M. F. Maury, 



Directors on the part of the National Institute. 

 Washington City, March 18. 1S44, 

 [Proc. Nat. Inst., i, p. 382.] 



P^ 



NOTE F. 



MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS. 



The following ajipeal was made to Congress at its late session (first session of 

 Twenty-ninth Congress) in favor of the National Institute, and was presented to the 

 Senate by the Hon. Lewis Cass and to the House of Representatives by the Hon. .Jolm 

 Qulncy Adams: 



To the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled : 



The undersigned would respectfully petition that the memorials* heretofore pre- 

 sented to your honorable bodies in behalf of the National Institute may again be 

 taken into consideration and the prayers therein be granted. 



In addition to the reasons before set forth In their favor, the nnderslgned would 

 beg leave to state what they most sincerely deplore — the increasing difficulties of the 

 Institute. It is becoming entirely impracticable, by mere private contributions and 

 taxes, to pay the large incidental expenses attendant on the collection and preserva- 

 tion of so much valuable property connected with the advancement of science, litera- 

 ture, and the arts. The Institute asks and has asked nothing for the private emolu- 

 ment of its members. It merely seeks means to secure the property coming into its 

 custody from time to time so that it may not be injured or lost, and so that it may 

 be exhibited and used by the public, as it is dedicated to the public, and the title to 

 it IS intended to be in the Government. 



For want of pecuniary means, all our collections, whether in possession or increas- 

 ing by new additions weekly, are injeopai'dy; and unless Congress interfere to save 



* Copies of these memorials will be found at pp. 383 and 386 of the Third Bulletin 

 of the proceedings of the National Institute, which accompanies this memorial. 



