THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 
335 
1843.] 
The Hon. Mr. Upshur then desired that, preparatory to his offer of certain reso¬ 
lutions, two circulars, heretofore issued, might be read. They are as follows : 
Extract from the Proceedings of the National Institute for the Promotion of 
Science. 
At a stated meeting of the National Institute held on the 13th of June, 1842, 
the Hon. John C. Spencer, Secretary of War, and one of the Directors of the Na¬ 
tional Institute on the part of the Government, submitted the following resolu¬ 
tion : 
Resolved, That the President do appoint a committee of five members to devise 
and execute such measures as may be most effectual to invite the liberality and pub¬ 
lic spirit of our countrymen in aid of this Institute, and to obtain contributions in 
money, property, and such articles as are adapted to its purposes. 
Whereupon, the resolution having been adopted, the following members were ap¬ 
pointed by the Chair to constitute the committee. 
The Hon. John C. Spencer, Secretary of War, Chairman. 
The Hon. W. C. Preston, U. S. Senate, South Carolina. 
The Hon. Lewis F. Linn, U. S. Senate, Missouri. 
The Hon. J. R. Ingersoll, House of Representatives, Philadelphia. 
The Hon. Abbott Lawrence, Boston. 
At a subsequent stated meeting held on the 8th of August, the chairman of the 
above committee, on its behalf, made the following report of its proceedings, with 
a verbal explanation of the several portions of the report. 
The committee appointed to devise and execute such measures as should be 
deemed expedient to obtain contributions and other aid to the Institute would 
make an informal report. 
They propose making an appeal to the public, by disseminating an account of 
the Institute, its past efforts, its condition, and its prospects, and an exhibition of 
the many reasons why it should be sustained and encouraged by the citizens of the 
United States. In their judgment the best means of doing this will be the publica¬ 
tion of the remarks addressed to the Institute by the Hon. Mr. Preston, Senator 
from South Carolina, on the evening of the 13th of June last. 
They also propose to address circulars to prominent individuals in the different 
States, inviting their co-operation, particularly in receiving and transmitting con¬ 
tributions. 
They recommend that the Institute authorize the President and Secretaries to 
sanction their circulars by their official signatures. 
They propose that a meeting of the learned men of our countiy, distinguished 
for their attainments in the different siences, particularly in those termed physical, 
should be held annually at the seat of the General Government, at some early pe¬ 
riod of the session of Congress, under the auspices of the Institute, to communi¬ 
cate the results of their inquiries, to compare their observations, and to promote 
the general interests of science. It has seemed to the committee that this Insti¬ 
tute affords an opportunity, which ought not to be neglected, of concentrating the 
genius and learning of our country at a common centre, from which the beams of 
intelligence will radiate to gladden and bless the land. 
They recommend that, in addition to the powers already conferred, the commit¬ 
tee be authorized to make arrangements for such a meeting, at a day as early as 
may be found practicable, and to invite the attendance of those who may desire to 
participate in its proceedings. 
They think that a system of exchanges of mineral and geological specimens, and 
perhaps of other articles, with the private and public collections in different parts 
of the Union, may be established with reciprocal advantage ; and that the Museum 
of this Institute may, by these and other means, be enabled in time to exhibit the 
various treasures of our different soils; and they would suggest the appointment of 
a committee to w*hom this subject should be given specially in charge. 
JOHN C. SPENCER, Chairman. 
Whereupon, at the stated meeeting of the Institute, held on the 12th of Septem¬ 
ber, 1842, the foregoing report having been called up for further action, the follow¬ 
ing resolutions, intended to carry out the views of the committee, as described in 
their informal report, were submitted by the Hon. Joel R, Poinsett, President of the 
Institute, and adopted: 
