100 
PROCEEDINGS OF 
[August, 
On motion, it was 
Resolved , That the National Institution regards with deep interest 
the recent formation of the Association of American Geologists, the 
efforts made, and the plans proposed by it, for the advancement and 
development of American Geology. And, 
Resolved , That the National Institution invite the Association of 
American Geologists to make the City of Washington the place of 
one of its annual meetings. 
The following report respecting the transfer of the collections of the 
National Institution, from the basement story to the spacious upper 
rooms in the new Patent Office, was read. 
At a stated meeting of the Institution, held on the 14th of June, the Hon. Mr, 
Preston stated that, in consequence of a conversation had by him with some gen¬ 
tlemen of the Institution, in which it was represented to him that the collections 
of Natural History in the basement of the building were exposed to destructive 
dampness, he had an interview with Mr. Webster, Secretary of State. That, upon 
his communicating to Mr. Webster the condition of the specimens sent from the 
Exploring Expedition and the other objects belonging to the Society, Mr. Webster 
promptly expressed an earnest disposition to give every aid in his power, and offer¬ 
ed every facility for the preservation of the interesting collection now in the Pa¬ 
tent Office; and to enable him to do so, with a just regard to all the interests con¬ 
cerned, he would immediately request certain gentlemen, of whom the Commission¬ 
er of the Patent Office should be one, to examine and report to him the circumstances 
in which the collection is found, and the accommodations which may be conveniently 
presented by the building; being entirely disposed to appropriate every vacant space 
in it to the preservation of those valuable accessions to science, as well as to the 
public property transmitted' by the Exploring Expedition or accumulated by the 
National Institution. 
Mr. Preston said he was happy to he able to assure the Institution that, in this 
interview, Mr. Webster manifested, as he does on all occasions, that liberal temper 
in favor of science and learning which so naturally belongs to his own high intel- 
lect and extensive acquirements. 
The following letter was accordingly addressed to the Committee: 
Department of State, Washington , June 14 th, 1841. 
Gentlemen : It is represented to me that the rooms assigned in the Patent Office 
for the exhibition and preservation of those objects of Science which have arrived 
and are expected soon to arrive from the Exploring Expedition in the South Seas 
are not sufficient nor convenient. 
As these articles are public property, it is my wish that such other accommoda¬ 
tions should be furnished for them as may be practicable, without infringing upon 
the uses and purposes to which the building is devoted by law. 
