110 PROCEEDINGS OF [Sept. 



bent on Americans to furnish. I mean American history and antiquities, including 

 particularly all the knowledge which is still attainable respecting the aboriginal in- 

 habitants of this country, as an interesting portion of the great family of man. The 

 investigations to be made in this direction must now be conducted, in a great de- 

 gree, by the aid of the science of philology ; for whicli comparatively modern science, 

 now cultivated throughout Europe with enthusiasm by the greatest intellects of 

 the old world, the aboriginal languages of America will furnish new and indispen- 

 sable materials, and in which, I may add, much has been already accomplished, to 

 the honor of the country, by our veteran philologist and associate, M. Du Ponceau. 



Such arc the interesting objects which have led to the establishment of the Na. 

 tional Institution, and which have enlisted in this national cause, as patrons and 

 associates, the President of the United States, the past and present Secretaries of 

 the Executive Departments of the Government, and all those members of Congress 

 whose taste has particularly led them to the cultivation of science and literature. 



But I forbear pursuing the train of reflections to which this great subject would 

 naturally lead us. The natioiMl importance of it to our character abroad, and our 

 welfare at home, cannot fail to ensure for it the constant and liberal patronage of 

 the whole nation, through the present and future Representatives of the people in 

 Congress and in the Executive Departments of the General Government. The 

 bounty of a liberal Englishman may be brouglit in aid of these great public objects, 

 being the same which he had in view when he made tlio noble bequest to the gen- 

 eral cause of human knowledge in our country : and which, it is to be hoped, will, 

 by the zealous efforts of distinguisiied individuals in Congress, be soon applied with 

 effect to its destined purposes. 



I have thus submitted such considerations as have occurred to me on this im- 

 portant subject during the very short intervals of leisure which I could command 

 amidst the daily avocations of business ; and it will give me great satisfaction if 

 any of them should in the shghtest degree aid in promoting the groat national ob- 

 ject in view. 



I am, dear sir, your very obedient servant, 



JOHN PICKERING. 



Whereupon it was, on motion, 



Resolved, That a Department of Natural and Political Sciences 

 be added to the other Departments of the Institution. 



Mr. F. L. Castelnau, (lately appointed Consul of the United 

 States, for Lima, in Peru,) having ofiered to deposit in the Institu- 

 tion his Entomological Cabinet, &,c., &,c., the following correspon- 

 dence relating to the offer was submitted to the meeting : 



Wasiii.noton, JuIi/ 22, 1811. 



Dear Sir : At the last stated meeting of the National Institution, Mr. Force, the 



Vice-President, submittcti your letter of tlio 19th ult., offering to deposit tom|)orari. 



\j among our collections your valuable entomological cabinet and books on natural 



history. A comniillee was immcdiatuly appointed, consisting of Col. Abort, chair- 



