164 PROCEEDINGS OF [Feb. 



great and leading design of the National Institution is to explore and develop our 

 own resources, and to study and describe the natural history of the United States. 

 To this end our exertions must principally be directed. It should be the pride of 

 all connected with or interested in a National Institution, to see every State in the 

 Union fully represented in a National Cabinet, established at the seat of Govern, 

 ment. This method, wliilc it recommends itself to us and our interests, is calcula- 

 ted to extend benefits and encouragement to the societies and naturalists of our 

 own country, who will thus have a central depository, from which they may en- 

 large and vary their own collections ; and thus, also, in due time, the duplicates of 

 the Exploring Expedition may, with the greatest [advantage, be diffused through, 

 out the land, thereby fulfilling, in the amplest manner, the intentions of those who 

 projected, and justifying the liberality of tlie Government which sanctioned that 

 noble project. 



With these preliminary remarks, and under the restrictions which are embraced 

 in them, the committee recommend — 



1st. That a system of exchanges be entered upon without delay. 



2d. That the Curator and assistants be directed, for this purpose, to separate all 

 duplicates, except those from the E.xploring Expedition ; and that they select and 

 label such specimens as are to be sent to individuals or societies. 



3d. That the first step taken be to discharge the obligations of exchange already 

 incurred by the Institution. 



4th. That a committee be appointed, to whom the Curator shall submit all sets of 

 specimens thus set aside for an)' given exchanges, who shall decide upon the equiva- 

 lency, before said specimens shall be boxed up and sent off. 



5th. That in all cases of difBculty which may arise, reference must be made to 

 the President or Vice-President of the Institution for decision^ who will, if they 

 conceive it necessary, submit the question to the Institution. 



6th. That a book be kept by the Curator, subject at all times to the inspection 

 of the committee, in which must be noted the contents of each box or package ; 

 lists of the articles for which they are the equivalents ; the name and place of the 

 society or individual to whom one set is to be sent, and from whom the other has 

 been received. 



In what the committee have now submitted, they conceive they have done all 

 that it was possible or necessary to do at present, in reference to the third point of 

 the resolution, viz ; " reporting fully on the subject ;" although they are perfectly 

 sensible that in their report they have presented the subject in the most general 

 manner, believing that experience and practice alone will enable the Institution 

 gradually to settle upon a complete system. The committee beg leave to add, that 

 the present report is not to be regarded as final, but that it is submitted, with all 

 due deference to the Institution, to use the concluding words of the resolution, " for 

 its further consideration and action.!' 



