332 
PROCEEDINGS OF 
[ 1843 . 
From Dr. J. P. Betliell, Philadelphia, December 5, 1843. 
From Hon. John J. Hardin, of Illinois, House of Representatives, 
December 7, 1843: Enclosing copy of an inscription from certain 
brass plates, found in a mound at Kinderhook, Pike County, Illinois, 
with remarks upon the discovery of them, &zc. 
From Dr. Thomas Sewall, Washington, December 9, 1843: De¬ 
scribing the steps he took in his late travels in Europe to promote 
the objects of the National Institute, and enclosing a list of books, 
&c., presented through him to the Institute. 
Special Meeting, December 28, 1843. 
The Vice President stated that the object of the meeting was to 
obtain the concurrence of the Institute in certain recent proceedings 
of the Board of Management, at a meeting held by the Board, on the 
23d inst., at the office of the Secretary of State. 
The Recording Secretary read the proceedings referred to, which 
are as follow : 
Preamble , by the Hon . Joseph R . Ingersoll, Secretary of the Meeting. 
The early growth of the “National Institute for the Promotion of Science” has 
been remarkable, both in degree and character. While it has gathered around it 
an interest which is not confined to the immediate place of its establishment, or 
even to the country which it is destined hereafter to adorn, it is indebted thus far 
to individual favor alone for its support and advancement. It will readily be per¬ 
ceived how inadequate to these objects are its precarious resources. The very libe¬ 
rality which in continual bounty provides for it objects which are adapted to its 
character and are well calculated in themselves to promote its usefulness, becomes 
a burden when means are wanting to give to the fruits of benevolence a reception 
and display corresponding with their variety and value. A monthly record of con¬ 
tributions reflects honor upon the kindness and public spirit of the donors, whose 
numbers are daily increasing, and whose good will knows no bounds. But the 
proofs of their taste and kind feeling are imperfectly provided for, and sometimes 
altogether neglected, from the narrow fortunes of the infant establishment. There 
is no ascertained place of permanent or even secure deposit. There is no fund 
from which supplies, in any degree proportioned to daily necessities, can be derived. 
A few voluntary contributors to aprecarious and inadequate treasury, have furnish¬ 
ed, as they might be able, a portion of the expenses which are required, and have, 
in many instances, received into their care, for the moment, objects of interest 
which could not be provided for elsewhere. 
With such disadvantages as have been adverted to, the experiment has been 
fairly made. It never was expected that a National Establishment could subsist 
upon individual bounty alone. W r hen it shall have derived dignity and confidence 
from the permanent encouragement of the Congress of the United States, it may 
well be hoped that private munificence will frequently pour out its stores, and that 
a laudable pride will be felt in mingling personal associations and favors with the 
steady support contributed by the Government. A period has now arrived, when 
legislative assistance may be expected without arrogance, and sought without pre¬ 
sumption. They who hoped to behold, in the fullness of time, an institution of 
rich endowment and established utility, were perfectly willing to incur all the 
hazards of the experiment. Having done so, not without occasional effort, and 
even loss, they embrace the occasion of appealing at once to the sympathies of the 
public and the patronage of the Government. 
This body, at first the cherished hope of a small number of persons at the seat of 
the General Government, and soon to become the expanded reality! of national 
