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JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

WASHINGTON, December 8, 1880.

A meeting of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution was held this day at 10.30 o'clock in the Regents' room of the Institution.

Present: The Chancellor, Chief Justice Waite; Hon. W. A. Wheeler, Vice-President of the United States; Hon. H. Hamlin, Hon. R. E. Withers, Hon. N. Booth, Hon. H. Clymer, Hon. Joseph E. Johnston, Hon. Peter Parker, General William T. Sherman, Prof. H. Coppée, and Professor Baird, Secretary.

The Chancellor stated that this was a special meeting of the Board called at the request of the Executive Committee. A report of this committee was presented by the chairman, Dr. Parker.

After a full discussion of the subjects presented in the report, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted.

(In reference to the statue of Professor Henry.)

Resolved, That the Chancellor and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution execute a contract with Mr. W. W. Story, of Rome, for the statue in bronze of the late Prof. Joseph Henry, authorized by the act of Congress of June, 1, 1880, with the provisions for payment of the sum of $3,750 to Mr. Story on completion of his design for the statue; the sum of $3,750 on completion of the model in clay; the sum of $3,750 on completion of the statue in bronze; and the sum of $3,750 on delivery and erection of the statue with its pedestal in the city of Washington, on the site to be selected by the Executive Committee; and furthermore that Mr. Story shall cause the said statue to be insured for the amount of the advance payments to him against perils by land or by sea, which insurance shall, in case of loss, be paid to the Smithsonian Institute, for the benefit of the United States.

(In reference to the new Museum building.)

Resolved, That for the purpose of substituting a marble or tile flooring instead of concrete as originally designed for the large halls in the National Museum, an appropriation of $25,000 be requested of Congress, to be expended according to the plans and under the direction of the Building Commission of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, under whose supervision the Museum has been constructed.

(In reference to the use of the new Museum for the inaugural reception.)

Whereas the new Museum building is unfinished and not ready for occupancy for the government collections, and such a contingency will

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