PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. LEG 
The minutes of the meetings held on the 9th, 19th, and 28th of January 
were read and approved. 
Mr. Wallach presented the report of the Executive Committee for the year 1864, 
which was read and adopted. 
The Secretary stated that, in accordance with the instructions of the Board; 
he had renewed the inquiry to the Secretary of the Treasury whether the interest 
of the Smithsonian fund ought not to be paid in coin or its equivalent, but had 
not yet received a reply, it having been referred to the Solicitor of the Treasury 
for a legal opinion. ; 
On motion of Mr. Davis, it was 
Resolved, That if the Secretary of the Institution should ascertain that the 
legal opinion of the Solicitor would be adverse to the application, that he should 
request the Secretary of the Treasury to submit the question to Congress for 
its action. | , 
Professor Henry presented the question as to the disposition of the residuary 
legacy of Smithson which had been received from England, and was now ons 
deposit with the Treasurer of the United States. 
On motion of Mr. Patterson, it was 
Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to invest the money now on de- 
posit with the Treasurer of the United States, derived from the residuary legacy 
of James Smithson, in United States bonds bearing 7,3; per cent. interest. 
Mr. Wallach presented the following report from the special committee ap- 
pointed at the last meeting to inquire into the origin of the fire, &c., which was 
read and adopted: 
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF 
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION RELATIVE TO THE FIRE. 
The special committee appointed by the Board at its meeting on January 28, 
1865, to inquire into the origin of the fire at the Smithsonian Institution, 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, respectfully report that they have performed the duty assigned 
them, so far as the time and their means of information would permit. 
I.—THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. 
The testimony has been taken of all persons connected with the establish- 
ment that had any knowledge of the occurrence, and a written account of the 
whole is herewith submitted ; also a report from Colonel B.S. Alexander, United 
States army, who superiutended the fire-prooting of the main building, of his 
examination of the flues connected with the accident. 
It is evident, from the concurrent testimony thus obtained, that the fire com- 
menced in the southwest part of the roof of the main building in the wood- 
work immediately under the slate covering, and that it was kindled by the 
heated air or sparks from a sfove which had been temporarily placed in the 
room immediately below. ‘The pipe of this stove had been inserted, by mistake, 
into a brick furring-space resembling a flue, which opened under the rafters in- 
stead of into the chimney flue, within a few inches of the latter. By whom 
the hole into which the pipe was inserted was originally made is not known, 
but it is remembered that a stove-pipe was put into it as far back as 1854, at the 
time of the exhibition held by the Mechanics’ Institute in the building. No 
