The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-31
NATIONAL INSTITUTE.

nasty but earnest alluson to the National Institute
for the promotion of science, founded in this city
IN May, 1910, under the auspices of Joel
R, Poinsett esq, then Secretary of War, and of
other enterprsing officers of the government and
citizens Of Washington. We have watched the ORR
gin and progress of this institute with profound in
terest. Our object that occasion, and in flu
,ure will be, to awaken public attention to its
strong claims to the support of the people. No
one can peruse the three bulletins of the pro-
ceedings of the National Institute without be-
ing struck by the interchangeable and generous ex-
ertions made by every branch of the public service
consular, military, naval, civil, &c
and by the zeal and enthusiasm in its favor shown
by all classes of citizens throughout this broad land
all fondly chershing the hope and purpose of pro-
noting and founding permanently, at the seat of
the general government, grand national cabinet
of science, learning, and art, in successful rivalry
with public foundations of like character in the
capitals of oil the civilized nations in the world.
If the scope, capacity and true nature Of the in
stitute were perfectly comprehended, it is certain
that il would no longer be permitted TO anguish for
want of funds to keep pace with its growing useful
ness and progress. II has fourished in astonish-
ing manner Notwithstanding. 1t has been received
with enthusiastic sanction by the peoples and it is
well known that Its immense and daily augmenting
collections are entirely the property of government,
and for the benefit Of the people. The mun6cence
of the patriot and the patron of science, therefore,
may well be directed to the building up of monu-
ment so truly American, to shed a lustre on this
country like that which is shed upon their respect
i've nations by the British Museum, the Jardin des
Plantes, the Vatican, and the Walhalla.
1t is said that one great obstacle which has here
tofore impeded the advancement and prevented the
firm establishment of the institute, has been the d.
versty Of objects and interests, and the conflicting
and seemingly incompatible views of the friends
and advocates of various other projects. Of the
Smithson legacy, for example, some desire
to make a separate and distinct institution;
others are anxious that the results of the late expo-
ring expedition should stand alone, as if sufficient
for the scientific wants of the country. Several have
thought it desirable that National Gallery should
be formed as branch of the Patent Office, and each
of these plans has soughtto draw within its own net
the resources Of the rest On the other hand, the
National Institute, which has no private or sectional
objects to subserve has conceived the broader and
nobler am-whie rendering to each every thing that
is Justly due-of blending all these purposes and re-
sources into one great museum worthy OF the age
and of the country in which we live.
The National Institute has been in existence about
five years, and it confidently appeals to its published
proceedings, condensed and abridged as il has been
necessary to make those proceedings, for some idea
of what il has done already under nauspcious cir
cumstances, and for what it is capable of doing,
whenever il shall find itself possessed of the
means of carrying out its useful operations. II
is thought by many that its collections are
greater in extent and value, and more import
ant in american interest, than the collections
brought home by the exploring expedition. The
one cost the government nothing, and is perpeualy
on the increase. The other, which began its opera
tons before the institute founded, has cost the
government millions, (we bestowed, no doubt, in
the general estimation, and still continues to draw
freely from the treasury of the country; while Its
museum is, from its very nature, incapable OF fur
Their enlargement except at the cost of another SINH
lar undertaking. II is far from our intention TO UNI
derrate the results of that expedition They are Of
the highest interest," and, in public opinion, reflect
great credit on the hberality of our government
and on the intelligence and enterprise of our coun-
trymen. At the time it is but just to say that,
while the expense Of the one has been betrayed by
the government, the other has received no such
countenance and aid but is the result of the free
will offerings Of the officers and citizens of the Uni
ted States and of foreign governments, of learned
societies, and Of illusrious strangers.
But the principles on which the organization of
the National Institute is founded are, in many re-
spects, novel; peculiar and original, and are certain
" not well understood. II might prove interesting
to inquire what would have been the destiny of the
human race, if man, endowed with divine intellect,
had been born with the claw of the bird or the hoof
of the beast, instead of that delicate, beautiful and
unrivalled machine, the hand' The reasoning OF
the mechanical philosopher would have been vain,
and his theories fute--he formula OF the mathema-