130 
PROCEEDINGS OF 
[Dec. 
From Dr. Dunglison, Secretary of the American Philosophical 
Society of Philadelphia. 
From the Chev. de Bacourt, Minister from France. 
From Robert Walsh, Paris. 
From Edward Harris, Moorestown, New-Jersey. 
From B. S. Roberts, Plattsburgh, New-York. 
From Ethan Campbell, New-York. 
From Robert S. Chew, Washington, 
From P„ S. Du Ponceau, President American Phil. Society. 
From Hon. W. D.- Merrick, United States Senate. 
From J. Coppinger, New-York. 
From J. W. Williams, U. S, Consul, Sidney, New South Wales. 
From J. Burnett, Cincinnati, Ohio. 
From Dr. James C. Hall, Washington. 
The following letters from the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, 
accepting directorship of the National Institution, were read : 
War Department, December 4, 1841. 
Gentlebien : I received last evening your communication of the 1st inst., desir¬ 
ing to know whether I will consent to serve as a director of the National Institu¬ 
tion, according to the provision of its constitution which makes the heads of De¬ 
partments directors, with their consent. In reply, I have to say, that I not only 
cheerfully consent to serve, but that every aid in my power, personally or officially, 
shall be rendered to promote the noble and national purposes of the Institution, so 
far as may be consistent with the higher obligation to devote all the time necessa¬ 
ry to the discharge of my public duties. That obligation, I fear, will leave me 
but little, if any leisure for the agreeable associations and meritorious labors of your 
society. 
With great respect, your obedient servant, 
JOHN C. SPENCER. 
Col. J. J. Abert, } 
A. O. Dayton, Esq. > Committee , 
Francis Markoe, Jun., Esq.- } 
Navy Department, W 7 asiiingtoN, December 3, .1 84 F. 
Gentlemen : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 
first of this month, informing me, that by the constitution of the National Institu¬ 
tion for the Promotion of Science, I am, as the head of one of the Departments of 
Government, a director of that Institution, provided I will consent to serve; and 
expressing your own wish that I would take upon myself that office. I accept it 
with very great pleasure, but at the same time, with very great doubt of my ability 
