7 [211] 



Mr. Strickland and Mr. Walter were called upon, but were unfortu- 

 nately absent from the city. Mr. Haviland was also called upon ; but 

 not being seen, all necessary information was sent to him through his 

 son. Mr. Notman was seen and repeatedly conversed with. 



At the cAtif of Trenton^ the State Lunatic Asylum, and the old but ren- 

 ovated State-house, were visited. 



In examining these edifices, advantage was derived from the constant 

 presence and intelligent remarks of Mr. Notman. 



At the city of Nbw York, Grace Church, Calvary Church, the Church 

 of the Puritans, the Tombs, Trinity Church, the University, Dr. Potts's 

 Church, the Muhlenburg Church, Mr. Bellows's Church, the Church of 

 the Pilgrims, and several other churches, were visited. Much valuable 

 information was obtained at consultations Vx^ith Mr. Renwick, accompa- 

 nied by his father, Professor Renwick ; Mr. Upjohn, Mr. Warren, Mr. 

 Thompson, Mr. Mountain, Mr. Wells, Mr. Arnot, and Mr. Jewett. Mr. 

 Hough took occasion to visit also the marble quarry at Hastings, and sev- 

 eral other quarries in the vicinity of New York. 



At the city of Boston, the Masonic Temple, the Howard Street Athe- 

 nsum, the new Custom-housp, the Merchants' Exchange, the new The- 

 atre, and pther structures, were visited. Mr. Rogers and Mr. Young 

 were the architects conferred with. 



At the city of Cincinnati, interviews v/ere had with Mr. Daniels and 

 Mr. Walter. 



During the visits thus briefly sketched, a series of letters were written 

 by Mr. Owen to Mr. Seaton, embodying the fruits of each day's exertion, 

 and communicating very many details of great interest. These are best 

 submitted to the board in their original form : the committee therefore 

 annex them to this report. 



Valuable letters have been received from David Dale Owen, Professor 

 Silliman, and Professor Fowler, in relation specially to the comparative 

 mei;its of marble and sandstone : these also are annexed, for the inspec- 

 tion of the board. 



In order still farther to assist the judgment of the board on the impor- 

 tant point of the choice of material for the building, the committee have 

 caused several sample walls of different stone to^be thrown up for their 

 examination. 



It will be perceived, by the corrrespondence of Mr. Owen, that the ar- 

 chitects with whom he conferred are required to transmit their several 

 plans to the board by the 2.5th of December next. Until they are re- 

 ceived, no definite choice can be made ; and as '■'■the best tnaterial^^ and 

 " the best modes of iicr/iting- and vcntilatina^,^^ together with " estimates 

 of the cost" could, iifthe opinion of the committee, only be safely deter- 

 mined by reference to the plan finally adopted, they have abstained from 

 .treating those points farther than they are touched upon in the annexed 

 correspondence. 



" The selection of a site " is a subject also referred to this committee ; 

 but as it was made a matter of personal examination by the v/hole board 

 at their last meeting, the committee respectlully confine themselves to re- 

 porting the following resolution : 



Resolved, That the regents of the Smithsonian Institution do select 

 and adopt as the site for their buildings so much of the Mall, in the city 

 of Washington, as lies between Seventh street and the river Potomac, if 



