17 [ 211 ] 



of the " Mall," in the city of Washington, as lies between Ninth and 

 Twelfth streets, if the consent of the persons named in the fourth section 

 of the act of Congress establishing said institution be obtained thereto ; 

 and the said ground so selected shall be set out by proper metes and 

 bounds, and a description of the same shall be made, and recorded in the 

 book of records of the proceedings of the Board of Regents, and signed 

 by the regents. 



On motion, Mr. Hough, Mr. Owen, and Mr. Evans were appointed a 

 committee to communicate the said resolution to the President of the 

 United States and the other persons named in the fourth section of the 

 act establishing the Smithsonian Institution. 



And then the board adjourned until Wednesday, the 20th day of Janu- 

 ary, next, then to meet at the Vice President's room, iii the Capitol, at 

 10 o'clock, a. m. 



WEDNESDAY, January 20, 1847. 



The Board of Regents met pursuant to their resolution of adjournment, 

 adopted on the 23d day of December last. 



Hon. Lewis Cass, one of the regents, appeared. 



The committee appointed relative to the selection of a site for the build- 

 ing of the Smithsonian Institution made a report thereon, communicating 

 the consent of the President of the United States, and the other persons 

 named in the act establishing the institution, to the selection and appro- 

 pria"tion of the site selected by the regents. 



The Chancellor presented a letter from the Assistant Secretary and 

 librarian pro tempore^ containing a list of books presented to the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, in compliance with the tenth section of the act of 

 Congress establishing the institution. 



The following resolutions, reported by the committee appointed on the 

 9th day of September last to select a plan for a building for the institu- 

 tion, were taken up and agreed to : 



Resolved, That the Norman plan of a building for the Smithsonian 

 Institution, furnished by James Renwick, jr., of New York, substantially 

 as amended agreeably to the suggestions of the committee, is approved 

 and adopted by this board. 



Resolved^ That, as testimonials of the high sense entertained by this 

 board of the scientific merit and skill displayed in their respective plans, 

 the following premiums be awarded to the gentlemen named : 



To Messrs. Wells and Arnot - - ^ - $250 



Mr. .John Notman - - ' - 250 



Mr. John Haviland - - - 250 



Mr. Owen J. Warren , -■ - - 250 



and that one thousand dollars be appropriated for that purpose. 



Resolved, That a committee of three members of the board, as provi- 

 ded for in the fifth section of the act of Congress, be appointed, who shall 

 be empowered, on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution, to enter into 

 contracts for the completion of the buildings, and to take security for 

 their being finished according to the plan adopted by the board, and 

 within the time that may be stipulated ; and that said committee have 

 authority to employ one or more persons to superintend the erection of 

 the buildings and the fitting up the rooms of the institution. 

 3 



