The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-03-08


Literary Societies Of the United States, &c, &C.,
The subscribers take pleasure in announcing that
arrang made for the first annual meeting
of the National Institute. Ii will be held at Wash
ington on the first Monday of April In issuing this
invitation the committee are unwilling to give to
particular direction or even to enumerate the
Citations public bodies or classes Of ndiv iduals that
are embraced within its scope The Institute Is cs-
tablshed at the seat Of the General Government.
1t is chartered by the Legislature of the U. States.
Some of its officers derive their situation as such on
looks for essential end permanent support to the con-
stuted authorities of the nation. Yet, thus connect
ed with the Federal Government and cmanating
from its WILL the society is in all respects the least
exclusive that ever was formed 1t embraces In its
comprehensive plan all who are, who disposed
to be- the promoters Of SCIENCE literature, the arts
Every one, whatever may be his turn of mind or
course of occupation, may find in its objects some
thing congeDal 10 his tastes, or conducive to his
pleasures, interests, or pursuits. Philosophy and
practical mechanics are alike within its view Arts
of establishment and strict utility will he cultivated
Productions of nature, genius and labor, will be
sought for, received and interchaDged. Inquiries
and discoveries at home and abroad will be pr0secut-
ed with zeal. Theories of ancient and modern times
will be investigated and tried. Secrets Of the EARTH
the water the air, and the heavens will be explored
In assuming for an association which is scarcely ma
tu ed into existence these broad and lofty purposes,
VIC must not be deemed extrayagant or wild. An
explanation will be found in the universally of the
scheme and the connection with it of every variety
of interest Not an expedition can be fitted out
under the auspices OF the Government, by land or by
water, but may be made auxiliary to it. Diplomatic
agencies are directly and posyely promove Of its
plans Consular einpoymen!s, wherever extended
and however diversified, will become cohtributory to
them, almost without effort. In our own country
every public j, siitution possessing some objects in
ron tha Ipc To, NJ
once afford and derive assistance from the harnonl-
GUS intercourse. Membership Of the will natu-
rally imply membership of the other. Whereverlght
springs from human minds, its reflections will be i'm
mediate upon this association for hopes to lie iden
ii, d with every source Of light which human minds
can shed throughout the globe.
Resting OH the basis of a popular government the
Institute Is designed literally for the people. 1t hopes
10 collect and TO distribute with unsi airing hand what
ever may be beneficial to 1t is obviOus that
there can be limit to The number of its associates
except that which may be imposed by individual re-
luctance to do good in this especial form. The door
is open wide to the friends of the advancement of the
power, knowledge, and happiness of mankind for the
ability TO he useful extends Throughout. them ALL
Wherever disposition be found TO contribute or
derive useful information the badge of membership
may be worn.
1t may be proper to repeat the ntimations hereto
fore given, that The peculiar means of utility which
this association will possess will consist in its power
to exchange objects Of interest and value with all
other societies. Enough has been said to show the
extent and variety of correspondence which it may
command. This correspondence in its almost inf
mite subdvis on, becomes q thousand channels
through which will b. conveyed the productions of
every quarter of the world Possessed of these not
for selfish purposes neither for conceament nor
mere display, they viii become TO all useful ends
the common property of kindred associations, of
which the Institute is but the most fortunate in pro-
curing and the most happy in distributing the fruits
of its position and peculiar 1t Is more than
probable that many specimens may be received of
similar kinds. Such would at once be transferred
where their uses thus multiplied would be the most
esteemed. When productions rare as to admit
no counterpart find place in the halls Of the lns
tute, those halls and all they contain will be the
rghtful resort Of the curious and the property of
all ill., in its central resting place be easily access-
BILE and bene6cally available 10 ALL The officers of
the Institute will thus become custodicrs for the
friends of science throughout the world These are
no dreams of fancy. Stores of valuable pruduc-
lions have already been accumulated and in daily
progress. They wait only the means OF arrangement
and classification realize all of the hopes that have
been INDUCED
In calling t1gether large assembly of persons
are not lDsinslbe to the somewhat peculiar charac-
ter.of the ivitatisn. /, promises to our guests only
an intellectual banquet, and It looks to them for The
production Of the food. We have further calls to
make upon their indulgence In former circulars il
has been stated that appeals to be made to public
liberality. This Is the occasion wher appeal must
be made. Wherever success has attended pub
lie enerp lses of this nature, it has been the result
a.great degree, Of private muniGccnce. The names
# liberal donors have gone down 10 posterity with
some of The MODEST monuments of national pride
II they who shall honor the meeting with their pre-
sence could bring along with them pledges of good
will from their fellow citizens and friends, offerings
such as these would give interest and zest to future
exhibitions in the Of which every liberal
donor would have n share They will ho ue
and well applied, from the profuse outpourings Of
generous atHuence, to the humble tribute OF the
widows mite
The institute Is Of the broadcast popular character
Its permanence, an its freedom from the usual Ian
gers which beset almvst all newly formed popular
establishments, relied on mainly because Of it's
connection with the Government. The property
which 1t receives is the properly Of nation II is the
subject to individual neglect, caprice personal
or cooperative liability. Every object which in per
Tanent ownership or temporary deposIte be
placed in the Of the Institute is be regrded
as the absolute or qua flied property Of The Govern
ment IL is held indeed for the purposes of the In
sntue and through its administration but il acts on
y as the agent and organ Of the Government. Off.
GERS of the association thus Representa- OF the
nation. As such they will hold the stores manage
the concerns, receive the contributions exchange the
articles and diuse with scduIous care the benefits of
the association They are trustees ola greater
Poraon which has necessarily invested certain corpo
rate powers for lin ted purposes in them Not par
taking OF any political elements Of power they will in
directly AID IN some of the best political pur poses-the
advancement OF general knowledge, and the eleya-
ton Of the national character. Like the keepers Of
congressional library, the managers large scale
and with chartered authority are trusted with the
important office of taking of the objects which
may come into their hands In the eHecIuaI care of
them the field Of usefulness is boundIess. They will
not be buried talents. Sources ofvarous knowI ledge
they VIII beres'ored in streams ofinstrucon through
out the country and the world. Observations and
experience may from time to time unfold the true
means of dIduslng II, and they will be resorted to
with alac iiy and zeal Masses of elementary Dfor-
nation will be received The methods are numerous
by which they may be made subservent to the purp
SEES OF men, Different ages and countries have prefer
red different systems of communicating knowledge