The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-04

MEETING or THE CENTRAL comMITrEr roa THE UNI
TED STATES.

Pursuant to the notice given, the Centrsi Co,nmss
gcc mete n the rooms Of the National instnues ~
Patent Office, on Thursday evening, the 18th instant
At B o'clock. nv,
The meeting was called to order by Professor W Al
ter r. Johnson, ON whose motion Col Keter ores
was called to the Chair, and Charlcs r. StanDary
chosen Secretary Of the meeting
This temporary organization having been enscsso,
the committee proceeded " organize fl,,1 ~
President OF the United States, Chairman, ana rio'
Walter X. johnson Secretary
At the the request of the Chairman, (Coi. ForceJ
the following papers were read BY Prof johnson, IN
explanation OF the appointment and du'ies o. 'Ae
committee
STATE DEPARTMENT.,
WAsHKGToN, May IL, 1851.
TO the President Of the Natiossat Institute
for the Promotion Of Science
SlR: have the honor herewith to transmit CO.
pies Of correspondence which has taken place De-
tween the Minister Plenipotentiary Of her Majesty
the Queen OF Great Britain and this Department reia
tive to the proposed Industrial Exhibition to be held
in London in the year 1851.
From the circular OF the Royal Commissioners OF
Great Britain hereto annexed ii WILDE observed that
all objects intended to be introduced from foreign
countries and entered for that Exhibition are required
to have been first subtted to and approved by con-
tral authority or commission OF the country from
which they shall be brought and that no other VIII
" EecOBulAcu Ab Ctut50t 0tttnOUy cxCcPt ouSh 40
shall have been certified by the Government OF the
country in which it exists.
That American industry and arts may be enabled TO
appear in the place allotted to them it will be indis
pensabe that recognized central authority should be
constituted; and am under the impression that the
National Institutes having been regularly incorporated
by act Of Congress, and being habually engaged in
matters pertaining to the arts and sceuces Is the
proper body for taking the initiative in constituting
such central authority.
Eor1 oo 10 IN
the interesting and important subject which has been
brought to the attention OF this Department by the
distinguished Envoy Of her Majesty's Government,
and to request such action suggestions as may seem
necessary in order that the natural productions, the
ingenuity, industry, and arts OF the United States
may be fully and suitably represented on the interest
ing occasion herein referred to.
have the honor to be, very respectfully yours,
JOHN M. CLAYTON.
This communication was laid before the National
Institute, and by it referred to select committee,
which brought forward the following report;
Report Of the Committee af the National Institute:
The special committee, to which was referred
the communication from the Hon. John M. Clay
ton, Secretary of State, relative to the formation
of central authority for transmitting articles to
the Industrial Exhibition to be held in London in
1851, offers the following reports
The committee, impressed with the importance
of the subject commended to the Institute, have
given to it their earnest and careful attention.
The resources, the ingenuity, the industry, and
arts Of the United States are conceived to merit
he best eddeavors to procure for them the oppor-
unities of being adequately represented in the
great Industrial Exhibition at London.
Aggreeably to the programme adopted by the Roy
al Commission, no articles are to be received from
Foreign Exhibitors except those which shall have
been approved by central authority, recognized as
such by the Government OF the country from which
they are sent.
This Institute being the only Society for the Pro-
oton Of Science and the Arts directly incorporated
by the Government the Secretary Of State has deem
ed it the appropriate body to take action make sug
gestons relative to the fulflmcnt Of the wishes Of the
Royal Commissioners, by the establishment OF such
central authority as the case seems to require.
To this voluntary proposal the part OF the Sec
rotary OF State, the committee consider the National
Institute in duty bound to respond
In accordance with this view, the committee re-
| spectfully recommend the following resolution
l. Resolued, That the Institute will take action
the subject submitted to it by the Department Of
State.
9. Resc,rcd, That the Institute do now proceed
to constitute committee suitable to be recognised by
cnce with the British Commissioners and to secure
Industrial Exhibition in Londcn.
PETER FORCE,
JOSEPH HENRY,
WALTER r. JOHNSON, Committee
J.J. GREENOUGH,
CHARLES WILKES,