FORTIETH CONGRESS, 1867-69. 715 



every part of the civilized world, has made contributions to almost every 

 branch of science, and brought more than ever before into immediate and 

 friendly relations the Old and the New Worlds. 



A central museum for a complete representation of the products or 

 America, with such foreign specimens as may be required for comparison 

 and generalization, is of great importance, particularly as a means of devel- 

 oping and illustrating our industrial resources, as well as of facilitating the 

 studv of the relations of our geology, mineralogy, flora and fauna, to those 

 of the Old World. But the benefit of such an establishment is principally 

 confined to this country, and does not partake of the cosmopolitan charac- 

 ter of an institution such as Smithson intended to found, and therefore 

 ought not to be supported from his bequest. 



The Board of Regents are confident that upon a full consideration of the 

 case, your honorable body will grant an adequate support for the collections 

 of the Government, and also an appropriation for finishing the repairs of 

 the building, and eventually, when the financial condition of the country 

 will permit, for the independent maintenance of a national museum. 



It may not be improper, in addition to what has been said, to recall the 

 fact that the Smithsonian Institution has transferred, without cost,_to the 

 library of Congress, one of the most valuable and complete collections of 

 the transactions of scientific and learned societies and serial publications in 

 existence, consisting of at least 50,000 works, which, with the annual con- 

 tinuations of the same series, must render Washington a centre of scientific 

 knowledge, and the library itself worthy of the nation ; and that it has 

 also presented to the Government its valuable collection of specimens of 

 art illustrating the history of engraving from the earliest periods. It is 

 prepared to render a similar service to a national museum, by the exchanges 

 from foreign museums to which it has been a liberal contributor, and which 

 may be obtained as soon as means are provided for their transportation 

 and accommodation. 



It may also be mentioned that the institution has rendered important 

 service to the Government through the scientific investigations it has made 

 in connection with the operations of the different departments, and it is not 

 too much to say that, through the labors of its officers, it has been the 

 means of saving millions of dollars to the national Treasury. 



In conclusion, your memorialists beg leave to represent, on behalf of the 

 Board of Regents, that the usual annual appropriation of $4,000 is wholly in- 

 adequate to the cost of preparing, preserving, and exhibiting the specimens,, 

 the actual expenditure for that purpose in 1867 having been over $12,000;. 

 and they take the liberty of respectfully urging on your honorable body 

 the expediency of increasing it to $10,000, and that a further sum of $25,000 

 be appropriated at this session of Congress towards the completion of the 

 hall required for the Government collections. 



And vour memorialists will ever pray, &c. 



S. P. CHAo.L, 

 Chancellor Smithsonian Institution, 



JOSEPH HENRY, 

 Secretary Smithsonian Institution, 



May 29, 1868. Annual report, for 1867, presented. 

 Mr. GARFIELD moved to print 5,000 extra copies. 

 Jane 5, 1868. Mr. LAFLIN, from Committee on Printing,, 

 reported 'the following resolution, which was adopted : 



Resolved, That there be printed 5,000 extra copies of the report of the 

 Smithsonian Institution ; 3,000 for the use of the House, and 2,000 for the 



