PKOCEEDIIVCiS 



NATIONAL INSTITUTION 



THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE. 



Vol. I. JUNE TO DECEMBER, 1840. No. 1. 



Staled Meeting^ June 8, 1840. 

 Present, tweiily-six members. 



Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, First Director, in the Chair. 



By-Laws were presented by the committee appointed to 

 prepare them, and approved by the meeting. 



The members formed themselves in classes under the De- 

 partments specified in the By-Laws, and the Departments 

 were directed to organize, and report at the next meeting. 



The following donation was received : 

 Fossil vegetable remains, from the deep cut of the Chesapeake 



and Ohio Canal, near Harper's Ferry. — From M. Krebbs. 



Special Meeting, June 26, 1840. 



Hon. Joel R. Poinsett in the Chair. 



Present, fifteen members. 



A committee of three members, consisting of the Hon. W. 

 Cranch, Judge of the Circuit Court, Hon. H. D. Gilpin, At- 

 torney General of the United States, and T. H. CRAvvFOKD,Esq., 

 Superintendent of Indian Affairs, was appointed to inquire into 

 the expediency of petifioiiine Congress for an act of incorpor- 

 ation. 



