no 
PROCEEDINGS OF 
[Sept. 
bent on Americans to furnish. I mean American history and antiquities, including 
particularly all the knowledge which is still attainable respecting the aboriginal in¬ 
habitants of this country, as an interesting portion of the great family of man. The 
investigations to be made in this direction must now be conducted, in a great de r 
gree, by the aid of the science of philology; for which comparatively modern science, 
now cultivated throughout Europe with enthusiasm by the greatest intellects of 
the old world, the aboriginal languages of America will furnish new and indispen¬ 
sable materials, and in which, I may add, much has been already accomplished, to 
the honor of the country, by our veteran philologist and associate, M. Du Ponceau. 
Such are the interesting objects whieh have led to the establishment of the Na¬ 
tional Institution, and which have enlisted in this national cause, as patrons and 
associates, the President of the United States, the past and present Secretaries of 
the Executive Departments of the Government, and all those members of Congress 
whose taste has particularly led them to the cultivation of science and literature. 
But I forbear pursuing the train of reflections to whieh this great subject would 
naturally lead us. The national importance of it to our character abroad, and our 
welfare at home, cannot fail to ensure for it the constant and liberal patronage of 
the whole nation, through the present and future Representatives of the people in 
Congress and in the Executive Departments of the General Government. The 
bounty of a liberal Englishman may be brought in aid of these great public objects, 
being the same which he had in view when he made the noble bequest to the gen¬ 
eral cause of human knowledge in our country; and which, it is to be hoped, will, 
by the zealous efforts of distinguished individuals in Congress, be soon applied with 
effect to its destined purposes. 
I have thus submitted such considerations as have occurred to me on this im¬ 
portant subject during the very short intervals of leisure which I could command 
amidst the daily avocations of business; and it will give me great satisfaction if 
any of them should in the slightest degree aid in promoting the great national ob- 
jeet in view. 
I am, dear sir, your very obedient servant, 
JOHN PICKERING. 
Whereupon it was, on motion, 
Resolved, That a Department of Natural and Political Sciences 
be added to the other Departments of the Institution. 
Mr. F. L. Castelnau, (lately appointed Consul of the United 
States, for Lima, in Peru,) having offered to deposit in the Institu¬ 
tion his Entomological Cabinet, &c., &c., the following correspon¬ 
dence relating to the offer was submitted to the meeting: 
Washington, July 22, 1841. 
Dear Sir: At the last stated meeting of the National Institution, Mr. Force, the 
Vice-President, submitted your letter of the 19th ult., offering to deposit temporari¬ 
ly among our collections your valuable entomological cabinet and books on natural 
history, A committee was immediately appointed, consisting of Col. Abort, chair 
