130 PROCEEDINGS OF [DeC. 



From Dr. Dunglison, Secretary of the American Philosophical 

 Society of Philadelphia. 



From the Chev. de Bacourt, Minister from France. 



From Robert Walsli, Paris. 



From Edward Harris, Moorestovvn, New-Jersey. 



From B. S. Roberts, Plattsburgh, New- York. 



From Ethan Camj)bell, New- York. 



From Robert S. Chew, Washington. 



From P. S. Du Ponceau, President American Phil. Society. 



From Hon. W. D. IMerrick, United States Senate. 



From J. Coppinger, New- York. 



From J. W. Williams, U. S. Consul, Sidney, New South Wales. 



From J. Burnett, Cincinnati, Ohio. 



From Dr. James C. Hall, Washington. 



The following letters from the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, 

 accepting directorship of the National Institution, were read : 



War Department, December A, 1841. 

 Gextlexiex : I received last evening your comiuunicaliou of llie 1st inst., desir- 

 in" to know \vlacthcr I will consent to serve as a director of the National Institu- 

 tion, according to the provision of its constitution which makes the heads of De- 

 partments directors, with their consent. In reply, I liavc to say, tliat I not only 

 cheerfully consent to servo, but that every aid in my power, personally or officially, 

 shall be rondrrcd to promote the noble and national purposes of the Institution, so 

 far as niav be consistent with the higher obligation to dovolc all the time necessa- 

 ry to the discharge of my public duties. That obligation, I fear, will leave mc 

 but little, if any leisure for the agreeable associations and meritorious labors of your 

 society. 



With great respect, your obedient servant, 



JOHN C. SPENCER. 



Col. J. J. Aeert, ^ 



A. O. Dayton, Esq. > Committee, ^-c. 



Francis Markoe, Jun., Esq. * 



Navy Depart-ment, WASiiiNOToif, Dcccmher 3, Ib41. 

 Gentlemen : 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 

 first of this month, informing mc, that by the constitution of the National Institu- 

 tion for the Promotion of Science, I am, as the head of one of the De])artments of 

 Government, a director of that Institution, provided I will consent to ecrye ; anil 

 expressing your own wikIi that I would take upon myself that office. I accept it 

 wilh very great pleasure, liut at the same lime, witli very great doubt of my ability 



