Present: Roger B. Taney, John W. Maury, James A. Pearce, William H. English, David Stuart, James Meacham, Alexander Dallas Bache, and Joseph G. Totten. Also Present: Joseph Henry and William W. Seaton. Members not present were Stephen A. Douglas, James M. Mason, Rufus Choate, Gideon Hawley, Richard Rush, and John M. Berrien.
The Secretary stated to the Board that Hon. Joseph R. Chandler offered to present the Board's petition to Smithsonian fund held in the Treasury to the House of Representatives. On the motion of Mr. Pearce, the issue was referred to the Executive Committee to make the necessary modifications in wording. A petition from GIlbert Cameron, contractor of the building, requesting payment. Mr. Maury, on behalf of the building committee, presented a letter from the attorney of the Board that the suit had been dismissed and the Board could not be sued as well as a letter from Joseph H. Bradley requesting payment withheld pending the lawsuit. On the motion of Mr. Pearce, the subject was referred to a committee of Messrs. Mason, Meacham, and Totten with the power to order payment.
The Secretary laid before the Board a bill from Henry Parish purchased by James Renwick. On the motion of Mr. Meacham, the Secretary was directed to settle the bill. The Building Committee exhibited drawings for the new lecture room. The Secretary read the continuation of his report relative to the publications, correspondence, magnetism, and meteorology. Mr. Meacham offered a resolution that the Secretary furnish the Board with appropriations necessary for the following year. After some discussion, the resolution was postponed for further discussion. On motion, the Board then adjourned to meet on Saturday February 11, at 10 o'clock am.
Contained within:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 1, Board of Regents Vol. 1 (Bound volume)
Contact information:
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 900 Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012, SIHistory@si.edu
