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JOURNAL OF THE BOARD. 165

not again occur, and that no precedent is to be given for the use of the building for other purposes:

Resolved, That the use of the new National Museum building be granted for the inaugural reception of the President of the United States, on the 4th of March, 1881, and that the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution be authorized to make all necessary arrangements for this purpose.

The Board then adjourned, at 12:30 P.M.

WASHINGTON, January 19, 1881.

In accordance with a resolution of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution fixing the time of the beginning of the annual session on the third Wednesday in January of each year, the Board met to-day at 10:30 o'clock, A.M.

Present: The Chancellor, Chief Justice M. R. Waite; the Vice-President of the United States, Hon. W. A. Wheeler; Hon. R. E. Withers, Hon. H. Clymer, General W. T. Sherman, Hon. Peter Parker, Rev. Dr. John Maclean, Dr. Henry Coppée, Dr. Noah Porter, and the Secretary, Professor Baird.

Excuses for absence on account of sickness were received from Hon. Hannibal Hamlin and Hon. Newton Booth. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The Secretary presented a statement of the finances of the Institution.

Dr. Parker, Chairman of the Executive Committee, presented the annual report of the Committee, which was read.

On the motion of Dr. Porter the following resolutions were adopted:

Resolved, That the report of the Executive Committee for 1880 be accepted.

Resolved, That the income for the year of 1881 be appropriated for the service of the Institution upon the basis of the above report, to be expended by the Secretary with full discretion as to the items, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

General Sherman, Chairman of the National Museum Building Commission, presented a report of the operations of the Commission and of the Architects for the year 1880, which were read, and, on motion of Mr. Clymer, accepted.

The Secretary stated that he had been informed by the American Consul at Genoa, Italy, that the corner-posts of the railing around the tomb of James Smithson required resetting and the fence straightening, and he asked authority to have this done.

On motion of General Sherman it was

Resolved, That suitable measures be taken by the Secretary for the repair and preservation of the tomb of Smithson and its inclosure.

The Secretary presented his annual report of the operations, expenditures, and condition of the Institution for the year 1880, which was read in part.