
          Smithsonian Institution
July 7th 1849

My Dear Dr.

Your favour of the 5th has
just been received and I hasten
to inform you that I think the
[?] [?] you mention
is in the hands of the Secretary of
the Treasury and that if the law
passes Congress at this session I
may perhaps be of some use to you
This however must be a secrete
between us. I do not however
think that the law will pass
this session and I am led to
this opinion from the impression
I have received that little will
be done in the way of the passage
of laws of any kind during the
remainder of the session which
is not to continue more than
[crossed out: four] [added: three] weeks and a half from
this time. The Congress which 

        