The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-12-08
From the National Intelligencer.
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

|
The Regents Of this Institution were in session
on Friday from 10 To o'clock. The President of
| the United States. we happy 10 learn, ga We
yesterday his ready assent TO the application of the
Regents for the appropra ion of the whole of the
large reservation of land called the Mall to the
purposes of the Institution.
There was. we understand, much interesting
discussion in The Board on variuus questions which
came up for consideration. The following resolu-
lions (repnred by different committees) comprise
the chief matters decided on To which we add
| some propositions laid over to a future meeting:
| Resolued, That the Secretaries of State of the
Treasury, of War. and of the Navy of the United
States, he respectfully invited to furnish tn Con
suls and other public officers in this and foreign
countries under their respective Departments snch
suggestions as they may deem proper, in regard
TO The procurement, as opportunity offers, of ad
ditons To the Museum of the Institution. especia'
| ly In the Genealogical department that three
| hundred copies Of this report, when printed, he
placed at the disposal Of each of The above named
Secretaries, as an explanation To these public fnnc-
tOnaries of the views of The Institution in regard
to a museum; and that five hundred dollars he and
the same is hereby appropriated. out of the accrn-
ing interest. to pay transportation other expen
ses connected with the transmission from foreign
| parts to Washington of any collections thus made
And TO such contributions, when placed in the
museum the name of The officer obtaining and for
warding the same shall in all cases be appended
| Resotued. That the Secretary of War be res
pecfully invited to furnish TO the Commissioner
ot Indian Affairs such Suggestions as he may deem
proper regarding The procurement. from the Indian
country, of collections for the museum Of the
Smithsonian Institution, illustrating the natural
history OF the country. and, more especially, the
! physical history, manners, and customs 0f the va
riouS tribes of aborigines the North American
continent that one hundred copies of This report
| hon ,sol L.. l.. !.
ct informing the various Indian agents Of the spe.
cial character Of the collections desired and thai
the sum of five hundred dollars be and the same is
hereby annually appropriated out of the accruine
interest of the Smithsonian institution, for The pro
cnrement and transportation of such Indian col
ections And, when placed in the museum. there
shall be appended to each the name of the agent
| through whom The same may he procured
RESOLVED, That the public generally be invited
TO furnish contributions to the museum of the
Smithsonian Institution and that all such coniri
buttons, when considered worthy Of a place
shall he labelled with the name and residence o
| the donor.
Resoteed, That ten copies of the report &C
| cOmpanying these resolutions he furnished to eaci
| member of the Senate and House nf Represen
tatIves, and that each member be respectfully
requested to transmit these to newspapers and t,
individuals, in his district elsewh ere, who ma,
he likely TO take interest in the proceedings Of iht
Institution
Resolred. That, for TIE year I847, the Sum o
one thousand dullars be and same is hereby appro-
Praied, for laying out the grounds of the Insiilu
ton, and for The Purchase, transplaniation, aut
temporary fencing of the trees therein. to be ex
pended under the direction ofthe Executive Com
mifiee.
ReSOtCed, That Of this report, in such form a
it may be ultimately adopted, five thousand copie
be printed under the direction Of The Secretary
and that he be required TO transmit copy of the
same 10 each of the principal scientific and literary
societies. both in this and in other countries. ant
also To such indiv idusls, OF scientific or li,,~rar,
reputation, as ne may Judge likely to find ;nreres
in the proceedings of the institution
ResolUed, That, for the present, out Of the in
terest accruing 10 the Institution, the sum ofs2O,
900 he and the same is hereby appropriated, for the
purchase Of books and the gradual fitting up of a
Library, and all other incidental expenses relating
to The Library except The salaries ofthe Librarar
or Librarians; The said appropriation to commence
from the LIST day of January, 1S48
ResolDed, That the portion of The building to b.
Tor the present set apart for Libr.ry be Of sufT
Gent capacity TO contain not less than one hundred
thousand volumes. and thpt il is desirable that thu
plan should be such as 10 render extension prac
icabe, if hereafter desired.
RESOLVED, That. for the present, the sum o
four Thousand dollars out Of the interest sccruinc
w tue ineutuUO0, De dppIopIdteU TOT ln6 purchase
Of philosophical and chemical apparatus, models
&c. the said appropriation to commence on the
frs; Of January next.
Resoiued, That it is expedient u include, nj
tmately, in the plan of tho Institution. popula
lectures on useiui subjects as on agriculture and
It's latest Improvements ON the productive arts o.
life; on the sciences. and the aid they bring t.
labor Common sch0pl instruction, including
the ProPer construction of school rooms. the mos