380 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



what is so public in its character, and. so peculiarly under its guardianship as is the 

 encouragement of matters of this kind Avithin this District, subject to its exclusive 

 legislation, the prospect is that the operations of the Institute must of necessity 

 cease and the property be abandoned. 



Deprecating, as we do, an event so unfortunate for the cause of science and the 

 arts, not only here, but from here in some degree over the whole Union, and not 

 a little disreputable to our character abroad, the undersigned would earnestly pray 

 that Congress, at an early date, may avert the calamity by taking steps to aid effi- 

 ciently in preserving this important public property; and the more especially do we 

 ask this, when, for various reasons, it can be done at moderate expense and in entire 

 coutormity to the provisions of the Constitution. 



The undersigned resitectfully refer to the documents annexed, which exhibit the 

 character of the Institute and the course of its proceedings. 



Levi Woodbury, President, 

 Peter Force, Vice-President, 

 Francis Markoe, Jr., Corresponding Secretary, 

 G. W. RiGGS, Jr., Treasurer, 

 Robert J. Walker, Secretary of ihe Treasury, 

 J. J. Abert, TopofjrapMcal Engineers, 

 J. G. Totten, Engineer Corps, 

 M. F. Maury, U. S. Navy, 

 A. O. Dayton, Eourth. Auditor, 



Directors, 

 Washington, Decemher IG, 1S45. 



LIST OF documents ACCOMPANYING THE ABOVE MEMORIAL. 



First Bulletin of the Proceedings of the National Institution for the Promotion of 

 Science, established at Washington, 1840: Wasliiugton, 1841. 



Second Bulletin, etc., March, 1841, to February, 1842: Washington, 1842. 



Third Bulletin, etc., Fel)ruary, 1842, to February, 1845j also proceedings of the 

 meeting of April, 1844 : Washington, 1845. 



