1841.] THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION. 101 



Will you be so obliging as to visit the rooms, take some survey of tlie articles, 

 and signify to me what arrangement, in your opinion, may properly be made. 

 Yours, with respect, DANIEL WEBSTER. 



Col. J. J. Abert, 

 H. L. Ellsworth, Esq., 

 Peter Force, Esq. 



In compliance with the wish expressed by Mr. Webster in the foregoing letter, 

 the Committee made the examination, and reported fully thereon on the 24th June ; 

 and no objection having presented itself, proper arrangements were entered into, in 

 concert with the Superintendent of the Patent Office, and the collections of the 

 National Institution have been transferred to the splendid hall of the new Patent 

 Office. 



Whereupon the Secretary of State addressed the following communication to the 

 Committee : 



Department of State, Washington, August 9th, 1841. 



Gentlemen : I have received and read your communication of the 24th of June, 

 respecting the transfer of the collections of the National Institution, and cheer- 

 fully approve of the arrangements which you have entered into, with the consent of 

 Mr. Ellsworth, by which the whole collection has been placed in the upper rooms 

 of the Patent Office. So long as this custody of your collection does not interfere 

 with any uses to which the Patent Office is destined by law, it will give me pleasure 

 lo allow its continuance. 



I congratulate the members of the Institution on its flourishing condition and 

 prospects. They have accomplished much within a very short period. If their effijrts 

 be continued with tiie same zeal and success which have been hitherto displayed, 

 the Institution may be expected soon to enjoy the distinction of having elevated the 

 scientific and literary character of the country. 



I beg you, gentlemen, to assure the Society that I feel a real interest in its 

 praiseworthy cause, and will do any thing in my power to promote it. 



I am, gentlemen, with regard, your obedient servant, 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



Col. Abert, > ^ -,, . ' ■ 



„ ^ > Committee, q-c 



Peter Force, \ 



Letters were read : — 



From Dr. G. H. Muller, Secretary of the Society Diligentia of 

 the Hague. 



From Professor Renne Jillet, Secretary of the Institution Fceda- 

 gogique Central of St. Petersburgh. 



From Narciso P. Colomer, Secretary of the Liceo Artistico y 

 Literario, of Madrid. 



From W. A. Grahame, Secretary of the Society of Arts, Adelphi, 

 London. 



