THIRTIETH CONGRESS, 1847-49. 483 



vrish every gentleman in the House would read it, for it 

 would receive on all sides a warm and generous support. 



I desire to submit a few remarks in regard to our build- 

 ing. We were authorized by Congress to expend $240,000 

 in its erection ; but, in view of the wide field of knowledge 

 to be cultivated, the Regents resolved to save a part of this 

 sum and add it to the principal. Keeping in view the great 

 interests to be provided for, it was resolved to erect a build- 

 ing of proportions sufficiently ample to meet the require- 

 ments of the act of Congress, and of a style which should 

 not oiFerid the eye. This has been effected, a contract has 

 been entered into, and a plan of expenditure agreed upon, 

 which, while the building is gradually constructed, will 

 carry out the plan to full completion, and at the end of five 

 years from the time of its commencement. So far from 

 having expended the sum appropriated by Congress for the 

 purpose, we shall have, after erecting the structure, provid- 

 ing for its warming and ventilation, and the inclosure of the 

 grounds, $140,000 to return to the principal sum. In the 

 meanwhile we are carrying on the operations of the insti- 

 tution, stimulating original researches, publishing contribu- 

 tions to science, and gradually increasing our library. At 

 the same time we pay our debts as we go on. This is, of 

 course, accomplished by using the interest on the $240,000 

 for the building and the annually accruing interest on the 

 principal fund for meeting the regular expenses of the in- 

 stitution. 



The transactions of the present year arc highly interest- 

 ing, and will soon be published in a volume which will com- 

 pare well with similar publications in Europe. 



With the building, so far as it has gone, all paid for and 

 every debt discharged, we shall have at the end of the year 

 $10,000 more than we received from Congress. 



Is there any necessity for a standing committee of this 

 House ? How is the Board of Regents composed ? The 

 act of Congress declares that if shall be constituted of the 

 Vice-President of the United States, the Chief Justice of 

 the United States, the Mayor of the city of Washington, 

 three members of the Senate, three members of the House 

 of Representatives, together with six other persons not 

 members of Congress." Each House of Congress, it will 

 be perceived, has three members of the Board of Regents ; 

 and it is required by law that the board shall submit to 

 Congress at each session a report of the operations, expen- 

 ditures, and condition of the institution. 



At the last session, I presented a full report according to 



