116 PRUCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 
The Secretary stated that, immediately after the occurrence of the accident, 
he had applied to the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, for aid in constructing a 
temporary roof to protect the building and its contents from the weather. The 
Secretary of War expressed his willingness to grant this, provided the Presi- 
dent gave his sanction, and the expense should be refunded to the department. 
The latter was promised on the part of the Institution by the Secretary, after 
consultation with the Chancellor. The President readily gave his consent to 
the proposition, and General Rucker, of the Quartermaster’s Department, 
furnished the materials, and detailed a large force of carpenters and laborers, 
under the direction of Mr. E. Clark, to erect a temporary roof, which would be 
sufficient to protect the building from storms, and would not interfere with the 
construction of a permanent covering. 
4 * 
At the suggestion of the Chancellor, it was 
Resolved, That the measures which had been taken by the Secretary be 
approved. 
Mr. Patterson informed the Board that the House of Representatives had 
adopted, on the motion of Hon. Mr. Rice, a resolution directing the Committee 
ou Publie Buildings and Grounds to inquire into the origin of the fire, the ap- 
proximate loss to the government and private persons, the means necessary to 
preserve the remaining portions, &c. 
‘he Chancellor remarked that it would be proper that a joint committee 
should be appointed, to be composed of members of the Senate, of the House of 
Representatives, and of this Board, to take the whole subject into consideration. 
in anticipation of this, however, it was thought advisable that a special com- 
mittee should be appointed to report directly to the Board; and, on motion of 
My. Wallach, it was ' 
Resolved, 'That a committee be appointed to inquire into the origin of the fire, 
to ascertain the extent and character of the loss sustained, and to make sugges- 
tions as to what.measures should be adopted for the repair and improvement of 
the building. 
The Chancellor appointed the mover of the resolution Mr. Wallach, and the 
Secretary, as the committee. ; 
The Board having examined the building, adjourned, to meet on Thursday 
evening at 74 o’clock p. m. 
WASHINGTON, February 2, 1865. 
A meeting of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution was held 
at 8 o’clock p. m. at the residence of one of the Regents, Hon. R. Wallach, 
Mayor of Washington. Present: Hon. H. Hamlin, Hon. G. Davis, Hon. J. 
W. Patterson, Hon. 8. 8. Cox, Hon. R. Wallach, and the Secretary, Professor 
Henry, and, by invitation, Hon. J. H. Rice, chairman of the Committee on 
Public Buildings of the House of Representatives. 
Mr Hamlin was called to the chair. 
