The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-07-27
CITY A F F AIRS.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE.

Smithsonian Institution dayor two since, L
observe the rapidi,y with which the section Of
the building now in progress. is advancing 70
wards completion. Il is of course impossible
as yet to form any correct opinion oil what this
noble structure will be when finished, but, SO
far as one can Judge, there is every reason 70
believe that il will be worthy oil ITS munliicent
founder. as well in regard 10 the excellence Of
the materials used as architectural beauty. The
committee TO whom the selection Of site Tor
the edifice was entrusted, have, as it appears
to US, been peculiarly happy in the choice
which they have made. Situated on com
manding point Of what is called the Mall, il
presents to the beholder a panoramic view o.
the city, its public buildings, and environs, Oh
which the eye rests with unalloyed satisfaction
On placing himself in the north front Of the
ediice, the spectator beholds near him, in the
foreground, gentle declivity slopipg towards
the canal, admirably suited for The purposes oil
the Institution in experimental gardening, &C..
whilst, in the distance, the noble Capitol, with
its lofty dome, forms the background Of the
picture on the east In turning TO the north,
the fine proportions Of the Post Office Depart
ment. and the more grand and commanding
outlines OF the Patent Office, furnish object.
on which the eye rests with infinite pleasure;
and the gra,i6ed vision, as it passes towards
: the west, lights in succession upon the Treas
ury building and Presidential mansion, until
l,.nc =, c,lc al cd hui hs
towering dimensions Of the National Observa
: tory, situated on the summit Of Camp Hill. A.
IA filling up for this enchanting landscape, he
has outstretched before him the various marts
Of traffic, interpreted with extensive hotels
and neat private residences, which cover the
slopes as they rise from the base-lne Of the
Pennsylvania avenue.
So much for the physique and material Of the
Smithsonian Institution" as they present
themselves to the senses but Of its morale and
iatellcctual, the future alone can speak. The
will Of the protector Of the vast scheme Of
beneyolence OF which this noble pile is TO BE-
The outward sign, provides, we believe, speci
ficaly for the appropriation Of given amour,
10 The erection Of suitable buildings; and in
making their arrangements The Regents have,
very properly. governed themselves by the
views Of the donor, therein set forth. LII car
rying out a scheme for the diffusion Of kno,e
ledge among mankind, everything depends up
on The agencies employed in effecting this
grand purpose, and The channels through
which the benign influences Of learning are
70 be impaired to every branch q the human
family.
II we may be allowed to express an opinion
with regard to this sll-imporant view Of til,
matter, the diffusion Of knowledge omong man
kind will no, be best promoted, according Il
the intentions Of the benefceDt individual o
whose philanthropy it is 10 stand forth as
living monument in time to come, by the for
(, nation Of vast libraries OF rare books, or th,
endowment Of professorships, in which learn
ed men may doze over the musty speculation.
of ages that are sped. II is the knowledge fo
the people tie nation. constituted as they az,
Of individuals pursuing the various practica
vocations Of life, that he had reference; and
L. i, is TO the diffusion of such knowledge, thai
it may find Its way into every workshop and
every cottage in the land, that the views Of the
great English benefactor Of our country were
+ directed.
We have heard much Of the purchase Of
works costly on account Of their rareness and
antiquity, for the use Of the Institution and
we sincerely hope that what we have heard Is
not true. as il would certainly Indicate that the
gentlemen at present entrusted with the man.
agement Of the concern, attach an undue i'm.
portance TO what may be called ancient lore
Mr.. Smi,hson was. practical philanihropist
Had he wished 10 have made collection Of
curiosi,ies in literature, he would have con-
fined his donation 10 the Old World, where
such things are valued most highly, raihe,
than seek our Western Hemisphere, where
practical enterprise, with reference to future
improvement in the arts and sciences, forms
the grea, object Of consideration.
Nor was il as we conceive the intention Of
this good man, that the benefits 10 be diffused
through this means should be of a strictly
local characters must be the case If lecture
ships are Instituted, ON which classes TO be
composed Of those who are comparatively
wealthy shall attend. |, was his purpose, il
we mistake moi, to make knowledge, as far a,
practicable, omnipresen5 and to- enable It's
apostles and advocates 10 carry il home to the
6resides Of the most humble and most remote.
He wished j, TO 60 wherever book could be
Tead-not bound in calf and eticred in gilt, bu,
in the cheapes, form possible, consistent with
usefulness and durability.
Libraries and museums and laboratories are
all good in their way but they are incidental
TO the plan proposed, rather than its primary
objects. If teachers in the practical sciences