1843.] THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. .'}19 



from M. Tornel, Minister of War of Mexico, to the liislitute, and 

 begs that the money may be remitted to him. 



From John Varden, Washington, September 7, 1843 : Has re- 

 ceived and opened a large box directed to the Institute, which he 

 finds full of Turkish arms, &c., (box from J. P. Brown, Dragoman 

 United States at Constantinople.) 



From R. J. Cleveland, Public Store-keeper, Boston, August IG, 

 1843: Forwarding bill of lading for a box froin Smyrna for the In- 

 stitute. 



The Hon. James Madison Porter, Secretary of War, and chairman 

 of the meeting, stated : 



That tho celebrated mass of native copper of the Ontanagon, was probably 

 now on it3 way to Washington, for the Institute. A letter from (ieneral Cun- 

 ningham, agent for the mineral lands in Wisconsin, and on Lake Superior, of the 

 28th of August, had informed tho Department that it had been removed from ila 

 location on tho Ontanagon river, and was then on the shore of Lake Sujierior. It 

 had been removed from its bed by means of a temporary railway to tho Ontanagon, 

 below the forks, and thence transported on a scow to the lake. The removal had 

 been effected by Mr. Eldred, who claimed the copper, under an alleged purcliase of 

 the Indians, with the aid of a large number of men, who had either been oi)g;iged 

 or volunteered for the purpose of aiding in ils transportation. 



The Department did not recognize the purchase from the Indians, if any sucli 

 had been made, and had directed the agent to take possession of it on behalt of tho 

 Government, and transport it to Fort Brady, at the Sault de St. Marie, wlicnce tiie 

 Secretary of the Treasury had directed a revenue cutter to transport it to Buffalo, 

 at which place the Quartermaster's Department would take charge, and transport 

 it to this place. The weight of the mass, the chairman staled, was probably six 

 thousand to seven thousand pounds I 



. The agent had been directed to make to those who had transported it to the lake, 

 an ample compensation for their labor and expense ui so doing, although their right 

 to the mass of copper itself was altogetlier denied, as it belonged to the Govern- 

 ment of the United States. 



Any claim to the ownership must be established to the satisfaction of Congress, 

 before it would be recognized by tho Department. 



Stated Meeting, November 13, 1813. 

 The Recording Secretary announced the following donations : 



For the Cabinet. 



Coluber, from Rio Janeiro; Exocetus, from Rio Janeiro. — From 

 Charles De Selding. 



Copper Cent of America, Washington and Independence, 1783.^ — 

 From Capt. J. S. Jnglee. 



One of the Swords brought from France by General Lafayette, 

 which he gave to the officers who were with General Washing- 

 ton. — From Joseph llarbaugh. 



Pincushion, made irom tlic dresses of General Washington's StalT, 

 while at Hurrisburg, Pennsylvuniu. — From 



