NOTICE 



TO THE MEMBERS 



OF THE 



NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 



A reference' to the last "Memorial to Congress," 

 (p. 503,) which was presented to the Senate by the 

 honorable Lewis Cass, and to the House of Representa- 

 tives by the venerable John Qiiincy Adams, will afford 

 the members some idea of the present condition of the; 

 National Institute. Notwithstanding that renewed ap- 

 peal. Congress has again omitted to grant relief. More 

 than a thousand boxes, barrels, trunks, See, &,c., em- 

 bracing collections of value, variety, and rarity in lite- '^ 

 rature, in the arts, and in natural history, remain on 

 hand unopened — the liberal contributions of members 

 at home and abroad — of Governments — of learned and 

 scientific societies and institutions of foreign countries 

 and of our own — and of munificent friends and patrons 

 in every part of the world. The worth, extent, and 

 American interest of these collections may be under- 

 stood, though imperfectly, by a perusal of the four 

 Bulletins which are now before the public. For the 

 preservation, reception, and display of these, the Institute 

 has neither funds, nor a suitable depository. The usual 

 meetings of the members have been suspended for a con- 

 siderable period. Hence the regftlar proceedings have 



