The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-02
THE SMITHSONIAN nEaUEsr.

by the late interesting speech in the Senate by
the venerable Mr.. RoBBiSs, and commune
cation which VIC subjoin, from one Of the most
learned and excellent Doctors Of Divinity in
New England. 1t has been before Select
Committees of both Houses of Congress for
some weeks past, but seems to have elected
very little discussion.
| II may not be unintcresting to refer 10 some
particulars concerning it.
| Mr.. Richard Rush, who was sent 10 Eng
land, in 1886, to recover the bequest OF Mr..
James Smithson made to the United States,
for the pnrpese of founding at the Capital of
our Government, an institution for the difiu-
sion of knowledge amongst mankind, returned
to this country in August, 1888, bringing
with him the amount of the bequest in gold,
and deposited the same in the Mint at Phila-
depha on the LIST Of September The nett
amount Of the money thus paid into the Trea-
sury of the United States, was five hundred
and eight thousand three hundred andeighteen
dollars forty six cents, (S5Os,3ls 46.) To
this is to be added the sum of $6,S4S which,
was deducted from the amount received in
England, to pay expenses. The proceeds Of
some personal effects yet to be sold, is also to
be added.
OF this legacy the sum Of $499,500 has
been expended by the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury, in the purchase of FIVE hundred bonds
Of the State Of Arkansas, for $1,000 each,
bearing six per cent. interest payable semi.
annually. The further sum Of SS,270 has
been invested in eight Michigan bonds, bear
ing six per cent. interest, payable seminar
nually. The sum of $547, remains to be in.
vested.
In the congressional documents before US
we do not find the will of the testator, nor
any clue in the correspondence of Mr.. Rush
the particular plan of institution designed
by Mr. Smithson, except that it should be the
Smithsonian Institution for the Increase and
Diffusion Of knowledge among Men,
Something, perhaps, may be inferred from the
character Of the man himself, which we have
not seen alluded to. Mr.. Rush seems not to
have been very successful in his inquiries on
this point. He says, however, that what he
heard and confdes in, amounts to this:
"That Mr.. smilhson was, in fact the natural
son of the Duke of Northumberland; that his mother
was Mrs. Macie, of ancient family in Wiltshire
of the name of HungeTford; that he was educated
at Oxford, where he took an honorary degree in
l1S6 that he went under the name of James Lewis
Mace until within few years AFTER he had LETT the
university when he took that of Smhson, ever after
signing only James smi.hson, as in his will; that
he does not appear to have had any fixed home,
living in lodgings when in London, and occasional
| ly staying year or two at a time in cities on the
continent, as Paris, Berlin, Florence, Genoa, at
which last he died; and that the ample provision
made for him by the Duke of Northumberland with
retired and simple habits, enabled him to accumu-
late the fortune which now passes to the United
1 States have inquired if his political opinions or
bias were supposed to be OF nature that led him to
select the United States the great trustee of his
enlarged and pnilanthropc views. The reply has
BEEN that his opinions, far as known or inferred,
thought to favor monarchcal rather than popu-
lar institutions but that he interested himself little
in questions of government being devoted TO science,
! and chiefly chemistry; that this had introduced him
to the society of Cavendish, Wolaston, and others
advanageousy known TO the Royal Society in Lon
don, of which body he was member, and To the
| archives of which he made contributions; and that
h also became acquainted, through his visits TO the
continent, with eminent chemists in France, Italy,
and Germany. Finally that he was gentleman OF
feeble health, but always of courteous though re-
| served manners and conversation"
This is but meagre account Of some of
the characteristics of a man, whose name will
be cherished byposterity as of one of the
greatest benefactors of his race.
We are not aware that the committees
have vet determined, in what manner the will
of the testator is to be carried out. We have
seen no particular plan proposed, except a
private memorial for an agricultural establish
ment, and some brief hints in the speech of
Mr.. Senator Robbins; nor do we think the
public entertain any definite idea of the plan
ofthe institution contemplated by the testator,
or of any one, proper to be projected upon the
foundation which his benefcence has supplied.
But when the means, the opportunity, and the
national wants are considered, the subject
presents itself as one Of almost infinite impor-
lance both in reference to the present and flu
ture interests of the human mind on this con-
tinent, and the glory Of our National Repub-
lie. In the hands Of such gentlemen as the
chairmen of the committees of the Senate and
House, respectively, viz Hon. ASHER Rob-
BINS and Hon. JOHN Quincy ADAMS, it will
be duly appreciated, and plan, we trust, will
be projected which may be, consistently with
the means, commensurate with the spirit of
the age, and dignity, honor, and wants Of the
American people.
We beg to call the attention Of our readers
and especially Of those Of them to whose
hands the destiny Of this future institution is