72 PROCEEDINGS OF [March, 



ment, was requested to confer with the Secretary of the Navy re- 

 specting the collections sent home by the Exploring Expedition, and 

 to inform him that the Institution had appointed a Curator, and was 

 prepared to receive and arrange them. 



The Department of Geology and Mineralogy reported its or- 

 ganization for 1841, viz: 



Col. J. J. Abert, Chairman. 

 Dr. F. Hall, Vice- Chairman. 

 Dr. H. King, Secretary. 

 A Circular, dated 13th February, and addressed to the following 

 Societies and Institutions in the United States, in the name of the 

 National Institution, soliciting their aid and cooperation in carrying 

 out the national objects for which the Institution has been formed, and 

 proposing to them exchanges, was read : 



The Albany Institute, - - - - Albany. 



Academy of Sciences, - - - - Boston. 



Historical Society, . . - . " 



Society of Natural History, - - - " • 



Statistical Society, . . - - « 



Historical Society, - - - - Savannah, Georgia. 



Maryland Academy of Sciences, he. - Baltimore. 



Society of Natural History, - - - Hartford, Connecticut 



Historical Society, . . _ - " " 



Academy of Natural Sciences, - - Philadelphia. 



Franklin Institute, . . . _ <' 



Rhode-Island Historical Society, - - Providence. 



American Antiquarian Society, - - Worcester, Mass. 



Western Academy of Natural Sciences, - St. Louis, Missouri. 



Mechanics' Institute, . . - - " " 



Lyceum, --.--." " 



PhilomathicSociety, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 



Letters were read : — 



From A. S. Byrne, on the best mode of propelling ships, &c. 



From Major Jno. L. Smith, Engineer Corps, enclosing ten dollars, 

 (two years subscription in advance,) and requesting that his name 

 should be enrolled among the paying members. 



