15 [211 ] 



Present, George M. Dallas, Chancellor ; William W. Seaton, George 

 Evans, Robert Dale Owen, William J. Hough, Richard Rush, A. D. Bache, 

 Joseph Totten. 



The number fixed by the act establishing the Smithsonian Institution 

 as a quorum being five, a quorum was in attendance. 



At 11 o'clock, a. m., the Chancellor took the chair and called the board 

 to order. 



Mr. Hough, from the committee appointed to v/ait on the President of 

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

 ,the act to establish the Smithsonian Institution, and obtain their written 

 consent to the selection and appropriation of the public reserv-ation called 

 the "Mall," west of Seventh street west, in the city of Washington, by the 

 regents, as a site for the necessary-buildings for said institution, reported : 



That on the fifth day of December instant he called upon the Presi- 

 dent of the United States and the other persons named in said fourth sec- 

 tion of the act establishing said institution, and solicited their assent to 

 the selection and appropriation by said regents of all that portion of said 

 reservation lying we>t of Seventh street west, in said city, as a site for the 

 necessary buildings for said institution, pursuant to the resolution of the 

 Board of Regents heretofore passed making such selection and appropria- 

 tion, but that he was unable to obtain the consent of all of said persons, 

 although a portion of them signified their readiness to give such consent; 

 and that itiasmuch as it seemed necessary that the assent of each and all 

 of said persons be obtained to the validity of such selection and appropria- 

 tion, the committee did not deem it of importance to obtain the written 

 consent of such of said persons as'^ignified their willingness to the same, 

 not being able to procure the whole. The committee, therefore, submit 

 the following resolution for the consideration of the regents, and recom- 

 mend the passage thereof 



The said resolution was then read and adopted, as follows : 



Whereas the consent of all the persons named in the fourth section of 

 the act to establish the Smithsonian Institution has not been obtained to 

 the selection and appropriation of the pubhc reservation called the '' Mall," 

 west of Seventh street west, in the city of Washington, by the regents, 

 as a site for the necessary buildings of said institution : Therefore, 



Resolved^ That a committee of three be appointed by the Chancellor to 

 confer with the President of the United States and the other persons 

 named in the fourth section of said act, and ask their consent to the selec- 

 tion by said regents of that portion of said reservation lying between 

 Seventh and Twelfth streets west, in said city, as the site for the neces- 

 sary buildings^of said institution ; and, if such consent be given, 



It is further resolved. That said buildmgs be located thereon, and at 

 least two hundred and fifty feet south of the centre thereof 



Mr. Hough, Mr. Owen, and Mr. Evans were appointed the said com- 

 mittee. 



Mr. Seaton presented a coniraunication from Mr. George Catlin, accom- 

 panied by a printed catalogue of his Indian Gallery, offering his collection 

 of Indian memorials to the Smithsonian Institution, which was referred 

 to the committee on the formation of a library. 

 , On motion of Mr. Owen, 



Ordered, That when this board adjourn to-day, it adjourn to meet on 

 Monday next, at 10 o'clock;, a. m. 



