The question was then taken as to whether the committee would require the production of the paper referred to, and was decided in the negative Ayes-Messrs. Upham and Wells; Noes-Messrs. Puryear, Witte, and Taylor.

Mr. Meacham asked to have a paper from Professor Jewett, being a communication from him to a committee of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, filed as evidence in support of his second specification.

Mr. Meacham.-Will Professor Henry point out the parts of the paper from Professor Jewett that are offensive, and caused his removal?

Professor Henry.-I submit the whole paper, and the report of the committee of Regents upon it; and also my own answer to Professor Jewett's paper.

Mr. Meacham made a statement in regard to the history and character of the paper referred to, and the object he had in view by wishing to have the objectionable portions of it pointed out by Professor Henry, or else the entire paper filed, and also the answer to it by Professor Henry, which was likewise laid before the committee of the Regents. The committee directed both papers to be filed. (See paper marked D.)

Mr. Witte-Will Mr. Meachan state what he intends to prove by the paper of Professor Jewett ?

Mr. Meacham.-I intend to prove from it that there is not in it a sufficient cause for the removal of Professor Jewett from the Institution. Question. Is it incumbent upon the secretary to assign a cause for removing Professor Jewett?

Answer, (by Mr. Meacham.) He has assigned a cause. I wish to know whether that cause was a sufficient one.

Mr. English, one of the Regents, raised the following point:

"That, inasmuch as the law authorized the removal, by the secretary and Board of Regents, of an assistant secretary, without requiring that there should be any particular cause for the exercise of that power, and Professor Jewett having been removed from the position of assistant by the secretary and Board of Regents, therefore, an examination into the causes for the removal of Professor Jewett is not a proper subject for inquiry by this committee."

Mr. Meacham having concluded for the present the examination of witnesses in support of his specifications,

Professor Henry introduced Messrs. Richards, Coffin, and Randolph as witnesses.

Mr. Zalmon Richards sworn.

Professor Henry.-Will you state the circumstances about your conversation with Mr. Chase in reference to opening letters?

Mr. Richards.-The first I heard of this matter was some three months since, in conversation with a lady, who asked me if I had heard that Professor Henry had opened private letters of Professor Jewett. I answered that I had never heard it, and did not believe it. She affirmed it as a fact current. I said I could ascertain whether it was so or not. A day or two afterwards I fell in with Professor Henry, and inquired into the matter. Professor Henry said he should hardly

be willing to answer a gentleman who could suppose him capable of any such thing. If any such case had happened, it was by accident. He stated further that letters frequently came to the Institution addressed to Professor Jewett as librarian, and in various forms. In no cases where letters had come addressed to Professor Jewett as librarian had they been opened, when Professor Jewett was in the city. In one instance, a number of letters came to Professor Jewett's care when he was away-perhaps in Boston-and they were sent on to him to open, which occasioned great delay and inconvenience. As such letters. generally required immediate answers, they might have been opened when Professor Jewett was out of town, but never when he was in town.

Professor Henry.-Had you any conversation with Mr. Chase on the subject?

Mr. Richards.-Mr. Chase frequently called on me as an old acquaintance, and on one occasion I did converse with him in regard to what had passed between Professor Henry and myself, repeating the very words of Professor Henry to him.

Professor Henry.-I made these remarks to you after Professor Jewett's removal?

Mr. Richards.-Yes; all of it occurred after his removal.

Professor Jewett.-Did you understand Professor Henry to admit that while I was out of town my letters had sometimes been opened? Mr. Richards.—My impression is that he did so admit in regard to letters addressed to you as librarian.

Mr. Charles Girard sworn.

Professor Henry.-Will you state what you know about my opening, or proposing to open, Professor Baird's desk?

Mr. Girard. The matter is very clear. It was in July. Professor Baird had left the city. I occupied a room near his. Professor Henry came one morning and asked me about letters-the foreign correspondence. Professor Baird had told me where they were. I went to the place, and found the drawer locked. Professor Henry appeared uneasy-wanted to have the letters. He left the room dissatisfied because the desk was locked, and the letters related to affairs of the Institution. Soon after Professor Henry left the room, I recollected that the letters had been left, not in the drawer that was locked, but an upper case. They were foreign correspondence. Had the case containing the letters been accidentally locked, it would have been opened. The key was left with me. The letters were known to belong to the Institution. Committee then adjourned, to meet at the same place to-morrow evening, at seven o'clock.

TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20, 1855.

Committee met pursuant to adjournment.
Present: All the members of the committee.

Witnesses: Wallach, Professor Jewett, Colonel Randolph, Professor Coffin, Mr. Rhees, Mr. Hope, and J. C. Walker.

Messrs. Hope, Wallach, Coffin, and Dr. Foreman sworn.

Professor Henry.-Will Mr. Wallach state the source from which he

obtained a paper which appeared in the Star, attacking the late mayor of this city?

Mr. Meacham raised the point that such testimony was inadmissible till the party introducing the testimony should state his object in doing so.

Professor Henry waived the right to hear the answer of Mr. Wallach. Mr. Meacham desired Professor Henry to be requested by the committee to furnish them a statement of all the money expended by the Smithsonian Institution for books, independent of salaries or incidental expenses, for each year separately, since the Institution went into operation; which was ordered by the committee.

Professor Henry offered a paper, giving a general statement of his connexion with this examination; which was read by Senator Pearce, and a copy directed to be filed with the papers of the committee. Mr. William J. Rhees examined:

Professor Henry.-Will you state what conversation took place between us before Mr. Blodgett went to Cleveland?

Mr. Rhees. I understood you distinctly to say to Mr. Blodgett that he might produce certain papers at the Cleveland meeting, giving credit to the Institution for the facts, but that you were not willing to assume for the Institution any theories or speculations Mr. Blodgett might lay before that meeting. I understood that maps and charts had been prepared at the expense of the Institution for this meeting.

Professor Henry.-Do you know anything in reference to my forbidding Mr. Blodgett to write letters without submitting them to me?

Mr. Rhees. I understood you, always, from the time I entered the Institution, to direct Mr. Blodgett not to write or receive any letters on the subject of meteorology without submitting them to you.

Professor Henry.-Was this order obeyed?

Mr. Rhees. It never was, as far as I know, and I had the best opportunity of knowing.

Professor Henry.-Who opens my letters?

Mr. Rhees. The practice in the Institution in regard to letters is this: The messenger brings the mails to me. I then assort them, putting the letters for the different officers by themselves, and they are then sent to them. I open the letters sent to Professor Henry, and all letters addressed to the secretary of the Institution, the librarian, to the museum, &c., or when no person is named on the envelope.

Mr. Witte. Suppose a letter should come addressed Lorin Blodgett, meteorological department, would it be opened?

Mr. Rhees. If it came through the navy mail it would be opened. No private letters come through the navy mail, by special arrangement with the navy department; nothing but matter relating to meteorology can be sent in that way.

Professor Henry.-Will you detail Mr. Blodgett's conversation with you shortly after you came into the Institution?

Mr. Rhees. I came to the Institution 1st July, 1853. I think it was the first month after that Mr. Blodgett had some conversation with me respecting certain difficulties in the Institution. He stated there was great dissatisfaction among the officers or assistants. That there were difficulties I knew before I entered the Institution, having been so in

formed by Professor Henry, coming in as I did with the full understanding that I was to be his confidential assistant. I found, after entering the Institution, the case was worse than I supposed. At this interview, Mr. Blodgett said to me that there must be a change in the head of the Institution; that the assistants were all agreed on that point, and that it would be to my interest to take sides with them, or something to that effect. I replied to him that I could not hear anything from him on the subject of such difficulties; that he knew my position; I was Professor Henry's confidential assistant, and therefore knew all that was going on, and I did not wish to have anything to do with the matter. I left the room then, and refused to talk further on the subject. He spoke to me again on the same subject last summer, in September, 1854. He then stated to me that he had hard work to convince Professors Jewett and Baird that I had not been working against them. He said he was my friend, and then went on to tell me that there were many ways in which I could be of service to them, and him particularly. I asked him why it was that Professors Jewett and Baird had supposed that I had injured them, when I never had said a word or done a thing against them. I received no satisfactory reply to this. He talked altogether about an hour or more.

Professor Henry.-When did you inform me of this?

Mr. Rhees. I had many doubts as to my course, and did not say anything to Professor Henry on the subject for some time, till I had consulted my best friend-my mother-as to what was my duty. I then told him of it. I think this was subsequent to a second interview with Mr. Blodgett.

Professor Henry.-You were frequently present when Mr. Blodgett and myself had conversations. Did I at any time give him any encouragement in regard to back pay, or that his work in the Institution was to be his own property?

Mr. Rhees. I heard repeated conversations between the secretary and Mr. Blodgett, and always heard the secretary say the same thing— he urged Mr. Blodgett to state his claims definitely, so that he could understand them; always promised him full credit for his work.

As I understood it, the work was in a finished state in December, 1853, when first required by the secretary, only that subsequent observations and reductions might be added at any time.

Mr. Witte. Did any one of these conversations occur pending the completion of the work?

Mr. Rhees. The conversations occurred after the work was done, as I understood it. That is, the report on meteorology.

Mr. Witte. You say Professor Henry urged Mr. Blodgett to state his plans definitely. Do you remember what Mr. Blodgett said?

Mr. Rhees. I never could tell what Mr. Blodgett meant in his conversations, and only knew from his written communications, made at the request of the secretary.

Mr. Witte. Do you know of any contract between Professor Henry and Mr. Blodgett ?

Mr. Rhees. I know of no contract. I make out bills and settle accounts with assistants, &c., &c.

Mr. Witte. What do you know of the amount of pay allowed Mr. Blodgett ?

Mr. Rhees.-Inquired of Professor Henry, and was told to make his bill out at the rate of $800 per annum, or $66 66 each month.

Mr. Witte. Did Mr. Blodgett at any time receive checks or drafts in the building?

Mr. Rhees. Yes, sir; but receipts varied. I regarded the receipts in full which he signed, though some of them vary slightly from the ordinary form. Mr. Blodgett seemed to want more pay-the reason, I suppose, he refused to sign the printed and usual receipt of the Institution, signed by other assistants, and wrote one to suit himself, without the words "in full" in it. The last receipt, with the words "in full" in it, signed by Mr. Blodgett, was dated April 29, 1854.

Mr. Witte. Did Mr. Blodgett say why, in his opinion, there should be a change in the head of the Institution?

Mr. Rhees. Dissatisfaction with Professor Henry was assigned as the reason, as well as the further reason that the assistants had not as many privileges as they desired.

Mr. Witte. Did Mr. Blodgett state in what manner you would be benefited by taking sides with him and the other assistants?

Mr. Rhees. I understood him to say that Professor Henry would have to leave the Institution, and if I sided with them, I would remain; if not, I would have to go too. As I understood it, I had my choice to go or stay. At first I took it as advice, but afterwards regarded it

otherwise.

Mr. Witte. Did he say in what way Professor Henry was to be removed?

Mr. Rhees.-Not definitely.

Mr. Puryear. Did Mr. Blodgett say anything about the manner in which you could be beneficial to him or otherwise?

Mr. Rhees. One reason assigned was, my intimacy with Professor Henry, and my means of operating upon his mind in their favor. Mr. Blodgett did indicate the means by which I could serve the assistants, but I do not remember any except the above.

Mr. Witte.-Was there anything said by Mr. Blodgett as to who should succeed Professor Henry?

Mr. Rhees.-No.

Mr. Witte. Was any reference made to any new plans, &c.? Mr. Rhees. A reference was made to plans, but nothing definite was stated.

Mr. Witte.-Did Mr. Blodgett express himself sanguine in his views?

Mr. Rhees. He seemed to have no doubt of success.

Mr. Witte. Did Mr. Blodgett convey to you the idea that if some other course was not pursued, Professor Henry would have to leave? Mr. Rhees.-Yes, sir. I understood Professor Henry was to leave, and I was to have my choice to remain or go with him. As he used the word "us," I supposed, of course, he spoke for all, or some

others of the assistants.

Mr. Wells. What business are you employed in in the Institution? Mr. Rhees.-General assistant and private secretary to Professor