The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-18

nothing 10 do with either one or the Other-has n,
connexion with the "bugs, ""Fejee wigs" "Egyp
zion mummies," or with "lectures" on agriculture
or any other subject.
| The articles belonging to. rather obtained
blythe exploring expedition, were placed in the
large upper room Of the building erected for the Pa
tent ONCE by the joint committee Of the two houses
ofCongress the library, agrssaby 10 the prOUistO
Of act Of Congress- and the contents Of that room
have been designated the National Gallery,
and justly forms one Of the grettest attractions oil
| the city.
The collection Of curiosities brought home by the
exploring expedition comprises beautiful and we'll
prepared specimens of varieties ia all the depart
ments of the natural history Of the countries and
places which il visited. There may be seen numer.
Gus specimens ofqnadrupeds, birds, fishes, repues
insects and corals Illustrative Of the different orders
and species of the animal kingdom, from the mos
| highly organized 70 the lowest and must humble Of
that great department of nature also contains very
| numerous specimens OF the costumes, war lmple
mens, domestic utensils, and manufactures of the DIFF
feren and tribes Of people visited by the expedi
ton all lending 10 illustrate their respective
habits, customs, and the degrees ofeyEation which
| prevail among them. The humber and variety OF
the contents Of the national gallery contributed by
the exploring expedition, at first sight, amaze and
bewilder the vsiter, and for the first time, he Is
impressed with deep sense Of the vastDess Of the
labors Of the interchangeable commander Of that expe-
dton, and the officers and men under his command
IL may be Justly regarded proud monument TO
the enterprise OF our countrymen, and the enlg ht-
oned magnanimity and llberalty of our govern.
meat
In addition to which, this gallery contains the
Indian portraits and other pictures belonging TO the
War and Treasury Departments, deposited by them
for safe keeping; and the articles belonging TO the
National institute" are In this room also, and were
deposited and remain there through sgfsranes only
.,,A III. HgI han, "a. "A
part Of the curosties Of the room. And the State
Department has also deposited there the various
presents given TO public officers, and which they
prohibited by the constitution from receiving
And there also deposited the personal effects Of
the late James Smithson, consisting, among other
things, of most valuable mneralogieal cablpet
There also may be seen the camp equpage used by
Washington during the revolutionary war--tht
chair he sat in the knives and forks and spoon he
used at meals, and the cooking utensils Of his camp
and portion Of the clothes he wore furnishing
impressive lesson in all time to come Of the econ
omy and simplicity with which the Father Of hi'
country lived while perilllng his life for the achieve
ment Of your independence; and there also may b.
seen the sword he used In that eventful period Bu
forbear it inventory OF articles that every Anne
rican contempates with proud satisfaction. And il
Russia could erect a marble palace TO protect the
work shop and the mechanical tools Of Peter the
Great surely this great republic can afford glass
case to preserve these invaluable relics
The Patent Office has E the large room all the
specimens OF domestic manufactures Of the country
| deposited in the Office by virtue of an act of Con
gress Of July 4, 1896. The National Institute wa,
originally suffered by the late commissioner to oc
cupy room IN the basement Of the building, mot
then wanted by that officer } in which they held the
meetings, and, understand, had an occasional dis
course or lecture, if gentlemen prefer the term; bu
| they have no room there now. The one occupied
| hui nd bas kaop p;aI 81.
officer and their articles in the gallery are required
TO give place, the wanted for the expo-
| ring expedition. The "Natonal Institute" has no
connexion with that any other office under the
government, and | trust will never be suffered to
have any.
In addition, there is in the Enclosure hot-house
containing the same plants and shrubs collected by
the exploring expedition IN all parts Of the world
Over the gallery, &C., the Commissioner of Patents
has no other control than such general police ovel
the building and grounds give him; and he pays a
person 800 year out Of the patent fund for taking
charge of the articles belonging to his office there
and to the State War, and Navy Departments oil
the government
The national gallery, &c, ha, been placed by the
joint committee in charge of Capt Wilkes, Of the
navy; and that committee pay all the expenses Of
keeping the room and preparing the specimens, &c.
and if there is any humbuggery about it, it rests
upon Congress alone, and not upon the Patent OF.
nCe IL mas nOlnlnS 10 40 Win II. ana, Sir, alter
the vast expenditure made for the exploring expe
dion, it would be strange indeed if the interesting
and various valuable collections made by them
were not preserved trust they will be through all
time, and the collection increased for public exhibit
ton. tits already the most attractive exhibition in
the city, and visited, as learn by the person
having it in charge, during the year ls45 by nc
less than SIS, 1897 persons.
| beg pardon for thus OBTAINING the Senate.
did not deem it right to pass over the statements
made in silence, and thus give false impression tc
the public. beg, once for all, to repeat that the
Patent Office has but slight connection with the
national gallery, and nothing ohateper oith the "bugs
Ftree ,cigs muumies or eclwss;' and if it is hum
bug, as has been charged, Congress alone are en-.
titled to the honor of creating and supporting it.
To conclude, | must beg leave to reerate wha
have before said, that this is the only document
desired by the great mass Of the communicable
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES eighty-three per cent. of the
whole populatirn and surely this great interest car
ried by large proportion of our citizens and
many Of them learned and scientific, are Justly en-
titled to the most favorable consideration from this
body. | do not regard the business of agriculture
stationary, or agrlCutursts incapable of lcarn
ing and Improving but, on the contrary, deem i
the most noble and elevated of all pursuits only
requiring great experience and Judgment in thos,
who are engaged in ii, but actually standing il
greater need Of the aids of science than any othe
pursuit.
In this is its greatest glory-it ia susceptible o
the most expansive and unlimited improvement, t.
accomplish which, it commands science to be it
tributary; and in this point of view has God stamp
ed it the noblest of all avocations which human be
| ings can pursue And allow me to quote the Ian
| guage of the present Commissioner, with who's
| sentiments | most cordially agree
when 10 considered that much Of the legislation
Congress and millions Of the treasure Of the nation de-
voted in form and another to the protection OF
lures and other interests would not
reasonable few thousands should be annually aprrop
aed for the promotion and advancement OF that greatest
essential OF all the interests of the countrythe
| cultural The farmers themselves, while they cheerfu
millions Of taxes demanded OF them for the supper
of other interests would complain if few thousand
added to their burdens for the promotion of thei
l own"
| then hope that the Senate will agree to the re
port Of the committee, and print the 5000 copie
recommended.