THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 
319 
1843.] 
from M. Tornel, Minister of War of Mexico, to the Institute, and 
begs that the money may be remitted to him. 
From John Varden, Washington, September 7, 1843 : Has re¬ 
ceived and opened a large box directed to the Institute, which he 
finds full of Turkish arms, &c., (box from J. P. Brown, Dragoman 
United States at Constantinople.) 
From R. J. Cleveland, Public Store-keeper, Boston, August 16, 
1843: Forwarding bill of lading for a box from Smyrna for the In¬ 
stitute. . 
The Hon. James Madison Porter, Secretary of War, and chairman 
of the meeting, stated : 
That the celebrated mass of native copper of the Ontanagon, was probably 
now on its way to Washington, for the Institute. A letter from General Cun¬ 
ningham, agent for the mineral lands in Wisconsin, and on Lake Superior, of the 
28th of August, had informed the Department that it had been removed from its 
location on the Ontanagon river, and was then on tire shore of Lake Superior. It 
had been removed from its bed by means of a temporary railway to the Ontanagon, 
below the forks, and thence transported on a scow to the lake. The removal had 
been effected by Mr. Eldred, who claimed the copper, under an alleged purchase of 
the Indians, with the aid of a large number of men, who had either been engaged 
or volunteered for the purpose of aiding in its transportation. 
The Department did not recognize the purchase from the Indians, if any such 
had been made, and had directed the agent to take possession of it on behalf of the 
Government, and transport it to Fort Brady, at the Sault do St. Marie, whence the 
Secretary of the Treasury had directed a revenue cutter to transport it to Buffalo, 
at which place the Quartermaster’s Department would take charge, and transport 
it to this place. The weight of the mass, the chairman stated, was probably six 
thousand to seven thousand pounds ! 
The agent had been directed to make to those who had transported it to the lake, 
an ample compensation for their labor and expense in so doing, although their right 
to the mass of copper itself was altogether denied, as it belonged to the Govern¬ 
ment of the United States. 
Any claim to the ownership must be established to the satisfaction of Congress, 
before it would be recognized by the Department. 
Stated Meeting , November 13, 1843. 
The Recording Secretary announced the following donations: 
For the Cabinet. 
Coluber, from Rio Janeiro; Exocetus, from Rio Janeiro .—From 
Charles De Selding. 
Copper Cent of America, Washington and Independence, 1783.—• 
From Capt. J. S. Inglee. 
One of the Swords brought from France by General Lafayette, 
which he gave to the officers who were with General Washing¬ 
ton .-—From Joseph Harbaugh . 
Pincushion, made from the dresses of General Washington’s Staff, 
while at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania .—From 
