PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 115 
The opinion was expressed by several members of the Board that the views 
of Professor Agassiz were highly important, and believed to be such as were 
entertained generally by the scientific men of the country, but in consideration 
of the financial condition of the government, the present time was not favorable 
for action in regard to them. 
On motion of Mr. Trumbull, the consideration of the subject was postponed 
to the annual session to be held in January, 1866. 
The Secretary stated that the question had arisen at a previous meeting ‘of 
the Board as to whether the interest on the Smithsonian fund, permanently in 
the treasury of the United States, ought not to be paid in coin, in common with 
the interest on other trust funds in charge of the government; that he had 
addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury on this subject, but on 
account of the large demands on the government for the prosecution of the war, 
he had not pressed a decision of the question. 
On motion of Mr. Chase, it was 
Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to renew the application to the 
Treasury Department, in behalf of the Board, for the payment of the interest 
in coin. 
The meeting then adjourned. 
WASHINGTON, January 19, 1865. 
In accordance with a resolution of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 
Institution, fixing the time of beginning of their annual session on the third 
Wednesday of January in each year, a meeting was called for this day. 
No quoruni being present, and the Secretary having stated that the book- 
keeper had not yet been able to make up the annual accounts, the Board 
adjourned, to meet at the call of the Secretary. 
WASHINGTON, January 28, 1865. 
A meeting of the Board of Regents was held at 3 o’clock p. m. in the east 
wing of the Smithsonian building. Present: Hon. S. P. Chase, Hon. H. Ham- 
lin, Hon. L. Trumbull, Hon. J. W. Patterson, Hon. R. Wallach, Mr. Seaton, 
treasurer, and Professor Henry, Secretary. 
The Chancellor, Chief Justice Chase, took the chair. 
The Secretary stated that the principal object of this meeting was to officially 
inform the Regents that, on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 24, a fire broke 
out in the roof of the main building of the Smithsonian Institution, which de- 
stroyed the principal part of the contents of the rooms in the upper story of the 
building and the adjoining towers. ‘The loss, however, did not include the large 
library, the museum, with the government collections and those of the Institu- 
tion, the duplicate specimens intended for distribution, and the meteorological 
records. The accident would not, therefore, materially affect the essential opera- 
tions of the Institution, which would be continued as usual. 
