The Southern Press

GRAND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION
OF 1851

MEETING OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE FOR THE UNITED STATES.

Pursuant to the notice given, the Central Committee met at the rooms of the National Institute, in the Patent Office, on Thursday evening, the 13th instant, at 8 o'clock.

The meeting was called to order by Professor Walter R. Johnson, on whose motion Col. Peter Force was called to the Chair, and Charles F. Stansbury chosen Secretary of the meeting.

This temporary organization having been effected, the committee proceeded to organize permanently by the appointment of the Hon. Millard Fillmore, Vice President of the United States, Chairman, and Prof. Walter R. Johnson Secretary.

At the request of the Chairman, (Col. Force,) the following papers were read by Prof. Johnson, in explanation of the appointment and duties of the committee:

State Department,
Washington, May 17, 1850.

To the President of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science.

Sir: I have the honor herewith to transmit copies of a correspondence which has taken place between the Minister Plenipotentiary of her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and this Department relative 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, it will be observed that all objects intended to be introduced from foreign countries and entered for that Exhibition are required to have been first submitted to and approved by a central authority or commission of the country from which they shall be brought, and that no other will be recognized as a central authority except such as shall have been so 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 indispensable that a recognized central authority should be constituted; and I am under the impression that the National Institute, having been regularly incorporated by act of Congress, and being habitually engaged in matters pertaining to the arts and sciences, is the proper body for taking the initiative in constituting such a central authority.

I therefore beg leave to submit to its consideration 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 or 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 interesting occasion herein referred to.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours,
JOHN M. CLAYTON.

This communication was laid before the National Institute, and by it referred to a select committee, which brought forward the following report:

Report of the Committee of the National Institute:

The special committee, to which was referred the communication from the Hon. John M. Clayton, Secretary of State, relative to the formation of a central authority for transmitting articles to the Industrial Exhibition to be held in London in 1851, offers the following report:

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 the best endeavors to procure for them the opportunities of being adequately represented in the great Industrial Exhibition at London.

Agreeably to the programme adopted by the Royal Commission, no articles are to be received from Foreign Exhibitors except those which shall have been approved by a central authority, recognized as such by the Government of the country from which they are sent.

This Institute being the only Society for the Promotion of Science and the Arts, directly incorporated by the Government, the Secretary of State has deemed it the appropriate body to take action or make suggestions relative to the fulfilment of the wishes of the Royal Commissioners, by the establishment of such a central authority as the case seems to require.

To this voluntary proposal on the part of the Secretary of State, the committee consider the National Institute in duty bound to respond.

In accordance with this view, the committee respectfully recommend the following resolution:

1. Resolved, That the Institute will take action on the subject submitted to it by the Department of State.

2. Resolved, That the Institute do now proceed to constitute a committee suitable to be recognised by the Government as a central body to hold correspondence with the British Commissioners, and to secure the reception of American productions at the proposed Industrial Exhibition in London.

PETER FORCE,
JOSEPH HENRY,
WALTER R. JOHNSON,
Committee.

J. J. GREENOUGH,
CHARLES WILKES,

National Institute,
WASHINGTON, May 27, 1850.

Sir: I have the honor to make known to the Department of State the action which this Institute has taken on the subject of your communication of the 17th instant. That action is comprised in the following resolutions, unanimously adopted after full discussion, at the meeting held this evening.

"Resolved, That the Institute will take action on the subject submitted to it by the Department of State.

"Resolved That the Institute do now proceed to constitute a committee suitable to be recognised by the Government to hold correspondence with the British Commissioners, and to secure the reception of American productions at the proposed Industrial Exhibition in London.

"Resolved, That a committee of not less than nineteen be appointed to constitute a Central Committee on the Industrial Exhibition, and to correspond with societies and local committees throughout the United States.

"Resolved, That the President of this Institute be a member of the Central Committee.

"Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary communicate to the Secretary of State a copy of the foregoing resolutions, together with the names of the Central Committee."

The following are the names of the members of the Central Committee appointed in accordance with the foregoing resolutions:

Hon. Millard Fillmore, Vice President of the United States, and ex officio Chancellor of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Col. Peter Force, President of the National Institute.

Hon James A Pearce, U. S. Senate, member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Hon. Levi Woodbury, M. N. I., Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Commodore Lewis Warrington, U. S. N., M. N. I., Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography.

Prof. Joseph Henry, Vice President of the N. I., Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute.

Prof. Walter R. Johnson, Corresponding Secretary of the National Institute.

Prof. Alexander D. Bache, M. N. I., member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institute, and Superintendent of the Coast Survey.

Commander Charles Wilkes, U. S. N., M. N. I., late Commander S. S. Exploring Expedition.

Hon. William W. Seaton, M. N. I., Mayor of Washington.

Hon. Jefferson Davis, U. S. Senate, member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institute.

Lieut. Matthew F. Maury, U. S. N., Vice President of the National Institute, and Superintendent of the National Observatory.

J. James Greenough, Esq., M. N. I.

Charles F. Stansbury, Esq., Recording Secretary of the National Institute.

Col. J. J. Abert, M. N. I., Chief of the Topographical Bureau.

Gen. Joseph G. Totten, Vice President N. I., Chief Engineer, U S. Army.

Thomas Ewbank, Esq , Commissioner of Patents.

William Easby, Esq., Treasurer National Institute.

Leonard D. Gale, M. D., M. N. I., Examiner of Patents.

Joseph C. G. Kennedy, Esq., M. N. I., Superintendent of Census.

Ezra C. Seaman, Esq., M. N. I.

I have the honor to be
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
WALTER R. JOHNSON,
Cor. Secretary of the National Institute.

Hon. John M. Clayton, Secretary of State.

Department of State,
Washington, June 8, 1850.

Sir: I have duly received your letter of the 27th ultimo, communicating to this Department the proceedings of the National Institute on the subject of my note of the 17th of the same month. Those proceedings appear to me to be perfectly satisfactory; and I have accordingly transmitted them to the British Minister in this city, with the communication, a copy of which is enclosed for your information.

I am, sir, respectfully, your ob't serv't,
JOHN M. CLAYTON.

Walter R. Johnson, Esq., Corresponding Secretary of the National Institute.

Department of State,
Washington, June 1, 1850.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith a copy of the correspondence which has passed between this Department and the National Institute for the Promotion of Science, respecting the organization of a committee to constitute the central authority required by the regulations of the Royal Commission on