NOTICE 
c,4 
'■to. y 
TO THE MEMBERS 
OF THE 
NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 
A reference to the last u Memorial to Congress/ 5 
(p. 503,) which was presented to the Senate by the 
honorable Lewis Cass, and to the House of Representa- 
tives by the venerable John Quincy Adams, will afford 
the members some idea of the present condition of the 
National Institute. Notwithstanding that renewed ap- 
peal, Congress has again omitted to grant relief. More 
than a thousand boxes, barrels, trunks, &c., &,c., em- 
bracing collections of value, variety, and rarity in lite- 
rature, in the arts, and in natural history, remain on 
hand unopened — the liberal contributions of members 
at home and abroad — of Governments — of learned and 
scientific societies and institutions of foreign countries 
and of our own — and of munificent friends and patrons 
in every part of the world. The worth, extent, and 
American interest of these collections may be under- 
stood, though imperfectly, by a perusal of the four 
Bulletins which are now before the public. For the 
preservation, reception, and display of these, the Institute 
has neither funds, nor a suitable depository. The usual 
meetings of the members have been suspended for a con- 
siderable period. Hence the regular proceedings have 
