The Committee began their labors in October 1847. At that time, the Society ordered 2 sofas, 2 tables, 2 armed-chairs, 12 ottomans. The Society mentioned no particular patterns by which they would have these articles made, nor any price which they would have them cost. With the general license, the Committee wrote to Mr Donaldson , who had kindly consented to act as the agent of the Society, placed the order in his hands, and received a letter in reply, in which, among other things, he says, that the orders for the furniture will be immediately put in hand. Once correspondence with him ceased & on that term, and was renewed at the beginning of this. By reference to our correspondence with him, it will be seen upon what topics we have employed during the whole of the present session. We extract only that portion which is essential to this report. The Society, some time in Feb, determined to get blinds and oil cloth, and, besides them, to make no farther purchases this session. The committee were left without any instructions as to the blinds and oil cloths, as they were with respect to the furniture of last session. Accordingly we wrote to Mr Donaldson , leaving the selection entirely to his discretion. We ordered blinds both for the Library and the Debating room, making a difference in the quality, because we thought those for the Library should be finer.

The Committee have the pleasure to state that the sofas, tables, chairs, and ottomans have arrived, and in almost perfect safety. The blinds and oil cloth are daily expected, since we have heard of their arrival in Fayetteville. The Committee have examined with much care all the articles of furniture which have reached us, and cannot but express the opinion that it is all in very good taste and is peculiarly adapted to the use and ornament of a Library. We regret that any should be dissatisfied with it. But the Committee beg leave to state, that whatever be the faults which may be found to it, the Committee are responsible for none of them. Nor can our agent, Mr Donaldson , be in any wise held responsible. He, like the Committee, was left without instructions; forthe Committee could give him none, since they were without any themselves. The Society seemed to repose confidence in the Committee, and the Committee, feeling how little ground there was for confidence in them, took (what they had a right to take) the liberty of trusting entirely to the judgment of Mr Donaldson , whose taste in such matters was cultivated. Our stock of furniture is the result. It appears then that the responsibility revolves to Society, since the only case in which Mr Donaldson or the Committee could be responsible, is when either disobeyed instruction. The Committee are induced to make these remarks, because we learn, that the dissatisfaction which prevails on account of the furniture, vents itself either upon them or upon Mr Donaldson . We hope, however, that all dissatisfaction will pass away as soon as our tastes become a little more accustomed to the furniture and we see it in the Library room arranged in proper order.

We submit the following account of the costs of the articles, and other expenses of the furniture upon the making out of this Report.

To James Donaldson for	one pair of sofas	$90
[To James Donaldson for]	two armed chairs	64
[To James Donaldson for]	two tables	70
[To James Donaldson for]	eight ottomans	32
[To James Donaldson for]	160 yards oil cloth	190
[To James Donaldson for]	7 Blinds for the Library	45.50
[To James Donaldson for]	7 [Blinds for the] Debating room	22.75
[To James Donaldson for]	1[blind for the Debating room]	13
[To James Donaldson for]	Boxing of the above from N.Y. to Wilmington	31.75
[To] Messrs Cosby, Walker, & Hall, Wilmington	for commissions, &c	18.97
[To] Mr Fosset, wagoner	7.00
[To] Mr Mebane, wagoner	20.00
		604.97
	Paid	587.00
	Remaining unpaid	17.97