508 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



merit and perpetual security of the accumulated fund, and 

 when your honorahle body is assured that the organization 

 and operation of the institution have received the approba- 

 tion of the wise and good, not only in this country, but in 

 every part of the world where literature and science are 

 cultivated, the undersigned trusts that the request will he 

 granted. 



And your petitioner will ever pray, &c. 



(Signed) JOSEPH HENRY, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Resolution of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, adopted at 

 their meeting of June 1, 1850, and appended to the foregoing petition. 



Resolved, That it is expedient to enlarge the permanent fund of the in- 

 stitution, by the investment of such sums not exceeding $200,000 as may 

 have been, or shall be received for accrued interest or otherwise, in addi- 

 tion to the principal sum of the Smithsoniaft bequest, augmenting the prin- 

 cipal sum to that amount, and that application be made to Congress to 

 receive such sums not exceeding $'200,000 its may have bt:-n or shall be re- 

 ceived for accrued interest or otherwise into the United States Treasury 

 upon the same terms on which the original bequest has been received. 



Resolved, That the Secretary be requested to communicate u copy of this 

 resolution to Congress, and to request that provision be made by law in ac- 

 cordance therewith. 



SENATE, January 28, 1851. 



Mr. WALKER, of Wisconsin, submitted the following 

 resolution ; which lies over one day under the rule : 



Resolved, That the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution be 

 directed to inform the Senate why the Cth section of the act entitled " An 

 act to establish the Smithsonian Institution, for the increase and diffusion 

 of knowledge among men," has not been complied with by making suitable 

 arrangements for the reception of the "objects of art," &c., named in said 

 section. 



SENATE, January 30, 1851. 



Mr. EWING, from the Committee on Finance, to which 

 was referred the memorial of the Regents of the Smithso- 

 nian Institution, reported a bill supplementary to an act 

 passed 10th August, 1846, entitled " An act to establish the 

 Smithsonian Institution for the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men ;" which was read and passed to a 

 second reading. 



The bill is as follows : 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 

 States of America in Congress assembled, That so much of the' money now 

 in the hands of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, being an accu- 

 mulation of interest on the principal fund that accrued prior to' July first, 

 eighteen hundred and forty-seven, and heretofore set apart for the erection 

 of the suitable buildings for the use of said institution, as may not be found 

 necessary for the completion of the edifice now in course of erection, and 

 all such further sums as may be received hereafter from the estate of James 



