The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-03-08

wIsnsoros, March 5, 1874
To the Friends and Correspondents OF the National
Institute the Presidents and Onleers Of college.
and Universities the members oil Scienthc ana
Literary Societies Of the United States, Sc, &c''
sc.
The subscribers take pleasure in announcing that
arrang ements are made for the first annual moetng
n the National Institute II will be held at Wash
ngton on the first Monday of April. In issuing inns
invitation the committee are unwilling 10 give 10
partcuIar direct ton, even To enumerste The asso
ciations public bodies or classes Of individuals that
are embraced within its scope. The Institute Is es-
tablished al the seat OF the General Government
II is chartered by the Legislature of the w. States
Some Of its officers derive their situation as such on
ly from their official relations to the Government IL
looks for essential and permanent support 10 Inc con
.ttuted authorities OF the nation Yet thus copnec
ed with the Federal Government, and emanating
from its WILL the society is IN all respects The least
exclusive that ever formed. II embraces In It's
comprehensive plan all who are, who are disposed
TO be the promoters of science, literature or the arts
Every one, whatever may be his turn OF mind or
course of occupation, may hnd In It's objects some
thing congenial TO his tastes, or conducTo to his
pleasures, interests, or pursuits. Philosophy and
practical echanics are alike within It's view. Arts
of embe shment and strict utility will he cultivated
Productions of nature, genius and labor, VIII De
sought for, received and nterchanged. inquiries
and discoveries Of home and abroad will be prosecut-
ed with zeal. theories of ancient and modern times
will be investigated and tried. Secrets oil the earth,
the water, the air, and the heavens VIII be explored
In assuming for association which is scarcely ma
tn ed into existence these broad and lofty purposes
VIC must not be deemed extravagant or wild. An
explanation will be found in the universally OF the
scheme and the connection with il of every variety
of interest Not expedition can be fitted out
under the auspices of the Government by land or by
W ater but may be made auxiliary to it, Diplomatic
agencies are directly and positively pronotlve of its
plans Consular employments, wherever extended
| and however diversified, will become contrbutory 10
them, almost without an effort In our own country
every public institution possessing some objects In
common with the institute colaeralto it, may at
once afford and derive assistance from the harmon
Gus intercourse Membership of the one will natu-
rally imply membership of the other. Wherever ght
springs from human minds its reflections will be i'm
mediate upon this association, for it hopes to he jtn J.
Il, d with every source of light which human minds
can shed throughout the globe.
Resting on the basis of a popular government, the
Institute designed literally for the people. 1t hopes
10 collect and 10 distribute with uns, airing hand what
ever may be beneficial 10 man. 1t is obvions that
there can be no limit TO the number of It's associates
except that which may be imposed by individual re-
luctance to do good in this especial form. The door
open wide TO he friends of the advancement of the
power, knowledge and happIn, of mankind for the
ability 10 be useful extends throughout them all
Wherever a disposition can be found 10 contribute
derive useful information the badge of membership
may be worn.
III Ue proper 10 repeat tue HeTelo-
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 1t may
command. This correspondence, in its almost inf
mite SUBDIVISION, becomes thousand channels
| through which will b. conveyed tie productions Of
every quarter of he world. Possessed of these, not
Tor selfish purposes, neither for concealment nor
mere display, they viii become to all useful ends
he rty nfG trad ctatIp pf
which the Institute is but the most fortunate in pro-
curing and the most happy in distributing the fruits
Of It's position and peculiar care IL 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 as TO admit
counterpart find place in the halls of the lnsii-
tute, those halls and all they contain will be the
rightful resort of the curious and the property OF
all all, In Its central resting place be easily accessi-
BILE and benetcally available TO all The officers of
the Institute will thus become cusioders for the
friends of science throughout the world. These are
no dreams of fancy Stores Of valuable prcduc-
tions have already been ulated and IN daily
progress They wait only the means Of arrangement
and classification to realize all OF the hopes thathaye
been INDUCED.
In calling gelher large assembly Of persons we
are ms, nsible to the somewhat peculiar charac-
ter,of the Ia ratisn. IL promises to our guests only
an intellectual banquet and Il looks to them for the
production Of the food. We have further calls to
make upon their indulgence la former circulars ii
has been stated that appeals to lie made TO public
herality. This Is the occasion wheI. appeal must
be made. Wherever success has attended even pub
lie enerp Uses of this nature, i, has been the result in
a'great degree, Of private muDi6cence. The names
4 liberal donors have gone down 70 postenty with
some OF he noblest monuments of national pride
IL they who shall honor The meeting with their pre-
scnce could bring along with the pledges of good
will from their fellow citizens aud friends offerings
such as these, would give interest and Icst TO future
eI hlbons in the of which every liberal
donor would have share They will he welcome,
and well applied, from the profuse outpourings of
generous afluence, to the humble tribute OF the
\ widows mite.
The Institute Of the broadcast popular character.
u Its Lsrmanence an It's freedom from the usual n
\ gers which beset almut all newly formed POPULAR
establishments, relied on, mainly because OF It's
connection with the Government. The property
which receives Is the properly Of nation. IL is the
subject to individual neglect, caprice, or personal
or cooperative llabili y. Every object which IN per
Tanent Ownership temporary deposite be
placed in the Of the Institute is TO be regrfded
as the absolute qualified property Of the Govern
meni. II is held indeed, for the purposes of the In
siitute aud through its administration but 4 acts
ly as the agent and organ Of the Government Off.
of the citation thus representatives. OF the
nation. A. such they will hold the stores, manage
the concerns ceIve the contributions, exchange tn.
articles and dihuse with s,dulous care the benefits OF
the association. They are trustees Of greater cor
poTaion which has necessarily invested certain corpo.
rate powers for lin ted purposes in them. Not par.
taking of any pol teal elements of power they will in
directly oil in some of the best political pur ,osesthr
advancement of general knowledge, and the eeva.
ton Of the national character Like the koo pers Of
congressional hbrary the managers large scale
and with chartered authority, trusted with the
important office Of taking care of the objects which
may come into their hands In The effect al care OF
them the field Of usefulness is boundless. They will
not be buried talents Sources of various knowledge
they will be restored in streams Of in strucon through
out the country and the world. Observations and
experience may from time to time unfold the true
means Of di0usiDg IT, and they will be resorted to
with alac iy and zeal Masses of elementary mfr