The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-24

Board oil Regents oil the Smithsonian Institute.
Lieut.. Matthew +. Maury, U. s. NJ, Vice President
OF the National Institutes and Superintendent of the
National Observatory.
J. James Greenough, Esq, M. N. ]. I'LL.
Charles F. Stansbury, Esq, Recording Secretary Of
Col j. ]. Albert, NJ Nj, Chief Of the Typographical
Gen Joseph G. Tottcn, Vice President NJ l., Chief
Engineer u S. Army.
Thomas Ewhank, Esq Commissioner Of Patents
Leonard ID. Gale, M. d., M. N. L., Examiner OF
Patents.
Joseph c. G. Kennedy, Esq, M. N. l., Superinten.
dent Of Census. s --F. -.....a
Ezra G. Seaman, Esq, M. NJ. .a
have the honor to be
Very respectfully, your ob't scrvf
WALTER II. JOHNSON,
"a Cor Secretary OF the National Institute.
Hon. JOHN M. CLAYTON, Secretary OF State.
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
~ Washington, june 8, 1850.
SIR I have duly received your letter of the 9th
ultimo communicating to this Department the pro-
ccedngs OF the National Institute the subject of my
note OF the 18th of the same month. Those proceed
ings appear to TO be perfectly satisfactory; and
have accordingly Transmitted them to The isish Min
lister in this city, with the communication copy Of
which is enclosed for ourinformation.
I am, sir, respectfully, yonr ob't serv't,
. ..ssNa.... .I JOf1lN M C1A1 lON.
WALTER N. JOHNSON, Esq, Corresponding
Secretary OF the National Institute.
IaG.t. DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
a.. ...a. Washington, June I, 1850.
SIR have the honor to transmit to you herewith
a copy Of the correspondence which has passed be-
tween this Department and the National Institute for
the Promotion OF Science, respecting the organization
Of committee to constitute the central authority re-
quired by the regulations Of the Royal Commission
the proposed Industrial Exhibition, to correspond with
them in London, and with societies, local committees
and individuals in this country, and to sanction the
forwarding II articles applicable to the exhibition.
need hardly say to YOU sir, that the proceedings
Of the National Institute set forth in this correspon
denoe meet the appreciation Of the Department which
has full confidence in the committee named by that
Institute.
I avail myself OF this opportunity to renew to you
the assurance OF my high end distinguished con-
sideration. JOHN M. CLAYTON
Right Honorable Sir II. l.. BuLwER, &c.
Extract from the Circular Of The Ropai Commits
s0ners. 4t p at
& I" The Commissioners have felt that it would be
desirable, as far as possible, to prevent any per-
sons from sending hither articles which cannot be
admitted, rather than to reject the articles after
their arrival in London. They feel also that the
delicate and responsible task Of deciding on the
admission or rejection of articles destined for ex-
hibition by foreign contributors oughtnot to be i'm
posed upon any English tribunal but should be
referred to one ivng the confidence Of the exhi-
bitors thems .yes and standing entirely free from
possible .,putations of national partially. They
accc' ,ngly propose to admit to exhibition such
foreign articles only as may be forwarded to them
by the Central Authority (whatever may be its
nature) in each country. They will communicate
to such Central Authority the amount of space
which can be allowed to the productions Of the
country for which it acts, and will also state the
conditions and limitations which may from time
to time be decided on with respect to the admission
of articles All articles forwarded by such Cen
trail Authority will then be admitted provided they
do not require a greater aggregate amount of
space than that assigned to the productions of the
country from which they come; and, provided,
also, that they do not violate the conditions and
limitations of which due notice shall have been
given. Ii will rest with the Central Authority in
each country to decide upon the merits of the
several articles presented for exhibitions, and to
take care that those which are sent are such as
fairly represent the industry of their fclow-coun-
lrymcn.
(" Her Majesty's Commissioners will consider
hat to be the Central Authority in each case phich
Is stated TO be By the Government Of its country.
Having once been put in communication with a
Central Authority in any country, they must de-
cline, absolutely and entirely, any communication
with private and unauthorized individuals ; and,
should any such be addressed to them, they can
only refer to central body. This decision is
essentially necessary, in order to prevent con-
fusion.
"No articles Of foreign manufacture, to whom
soever they may belong, or wheresoever they may
be, can be admitted for exhibition unless they
come with the sanction of the Central Authority
Of the country Of which they are the produce.
The Commissioners do not insist upon such arti-
cles being in all cases actually forwarded by the
Central Authority, though they consider that this
would generally be the most satisfactory arrange
ment but is indispensable that the sanction of
such authority should in all cases be expressly |
given, and that il be held responsible for the fit
ness Of such articles for exhibition, and for not
the exhibition Of greater quantity
han can be accommodated in the space assigned
o the productions Of the country in question:"
A full discussion WINS then had of the subject
hus laid before the committee, and, on motion Of
he Hon, w. w. Seaton, it was
ResoIred, That the Committee Of FIVE first charged
with this subject by the Institute Substituting
Mr.. Kennedy for Mr.. Greenough, who is absent)
be an Executive Committee to take all necessary |
steps to carry out the views Of the general COM
mittes, .