MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS, 



The following appeal was made to Congress, at its late session, 

 (1st session of 29th Congress,) in favor of the National Institute, and 

 was presented to the Senate by the Hon. Lewis Cass, and to the 

 House of Representatives by the Hon. John Quincy Adams. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 



The undersigned would respectfully petition that the memorials+ heretofore 

 presented to your honorable bodies in behalf of the National Institute may again 

 betaken into consideration, and the prayers therein be granted. 



In addition to the reasons before set forth in their favor, the undersigned would 

 beg leave to state, what they most sincerely deplore — the increasing difBcuIties of 

 the Institute. It is becoming entirely impracticable, by mere private contribu- 

 tions and taxes, to pay the large incidental expenses attendant on the collection 

 and preservation of so much valuable property connected with the advancement of 

 science, literature, and the arts. The Institute asks, and has asked, nothing for 

 the private emolument of its members; it merely seeks means to secure the prop- 

 erty coming into its custody from time to time, so that it may not be injured or 

 lost, and so that it may be exhibited and used by the public, as it is dedicated to 

 the public, and the title to it is intended to be in the Government. 



For want of pecuniary means, all our collections, whether in possession or in- 

 creasing by new additions weekly, are in jeopardy ; and unless Congress interfere 

 to save what is so public in its character, and so peculiarly under its guardianship 

 as is the encouragement of matters of this kind within this District, subject to its 

 exclusive legislation, ti)e prospect is that the operations of the Institute must of 

 necessity cease, and the property be abandoned. 



Deprecating, as we do, an event so unfortunate for the cause of science and the 

 arts, not only here, but from here, in some degree, over the whole Union, and not 

 a little disreputable to our character abroad, the undersigned would earnestly pray 

 that Congress, at an early day, may avert the calamity by taking steps to aid effi- 

 ciently in preserving this important public property ; and the more especially do 

 we ask this, when, for various reisons, it can be done at moderate expense, and in 

 entire conformity to the provisions of the constitution. 



The undersigned respectfully refer to the documents annexed, which exhibit the 

 character of the Institute, and the course of its proceedings. 



LEVI WOODBURY. President. 

 PETER FORCE, Vice President. 

 Francis Markoe, Jr., Corresponding Secretary. 

 G. W. RiGGS, Jr., Treasurer. 



DIRECTORS. 



ROBERT J. WALKER, Secretary of the Treasury. 



J. J. A BERT, Topographical Engineers. 



J. G. TOTTEN, Engineer Corps'. 



M. F. MAURY, U. S. Navy. 



A. O. DAYTON, Fourth Auditor. 



Washinoton, December 16, 1845. 



List of Documents accompani/ing the above Memorial. 



First Bulletin of the proceedings of the National Institution for the Promotion of 

 Science, esliiblished at Washington, 1840: Washington, 1841. 



Second Bnllptin, &c., March, 1841. to February, 1842: Washington, 1842. 



Third Bulletin, &c., February, 1842, to February, 1845; also, prooeedinga of 

 the meeting of April, 1844: Washington, 1845. 



'Copies orthcio mcmorialt will Ik found at pp. 383 and 38S of the third Bulletin of the proceeding) 

 •r the National Inititutv, wliicli aecoinpaniei ibia memorial. 



