248 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, December 15, 1841. 



Mr. WM. COST JOHNSON, presented the memorial of sun- 

 dry citizens of Washington city, praying an early disposition 

 of the funds of the Smithsonian bequest, in conformity with 

 the wishes of the donor. 



Referred to the select committee on the Smithsonian be- 

 quest. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 3, 1842. 



Resolved, That so much of the message of the President 

 of the United States as relates to the Smithsonian legacy, 

 be referred to the select committee on that subject. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 29, 1842. 



Mr. CHAS. J. INGERSOLL presented a memorial of Richard 

 Rush, praying additional compensation for his services in 

 recovering the Smithsonian legacy. 



Referred to the committee on the bequest. 



Mr. ADAMS presented a petition of B. Birdsall, of the 

 State of New York, praying that a part of the funds of the 

 Smithsonian bequest, be appropriated for the purpose of 

 awarding annual prizes for the best original essays on the 

 various subjects of the physical sciences. 



Referred to the Committee on the bequest. 



The following is the petition : 



Your petitioner prays that a part of the funds of the 

 " Smithsonian bequest " may be appropriated for the pur- 

 pose of establishing and awarding a system of annual prizes 

 for the best original essays on the various subjects of the 

 physical sciences, useful arts, and abstract mathematics, &c., 

 &c., and for such new discoveries in art or science as shall 

 do honor to the nation; the subjects of the prizes to be given 

 or proposed by a competent committee. 



Your petitioner entertains the opinion that some such 

 system as the one prayed for would exert a most powerful 

 influence in favor of science in this country, and would 

 operate as an excellent stimulant to those who are disposed 

 to honor their country, in cultivating and promoting those 

 branches of useful science which serve to work out the dis- 

 tinction between the savage and civilized state. 



For this your petitioner most respectfully prays. 



B. BIRDSALL. 



CLINTON, February 9, 1842. 



