Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-06-04

OF us Design. ana tnc execution OF te design naa
been assumed, as well by an acceptance Of the
money as by several open and formal avowel.
by our Government II was to "found an ins,i.
tuition at Washington for The increase and difm-
sian of hno'cledge among men = to found, not an
academy, not a college, not a university but
something less technical and precise. something
whose import and circuit should he holder and
more comprehensive an institution not merely
for disseminating, spreading, teaching knowl.
edge, but also and foremost, for creating, origi-
mating, increasing it. Where at +? In the city
whose name recalls the wiscst, purest and no.
blest spirit of the frcest, newest and broadcast
land. And among whom Not chosen or
designated class-not the followers of parti.
cular sage or scct-not the favorites Of fortune.
nor the lifted Of rank-but among MEs-men Of
every condition, of every school, of every faith,
of every nativity Men! 1t was with purpose
thus elevated aud expansive. thus as well distinct
as Understanding, that James Smithson com
mtcd his wealth to the guardianship Of the
American Republic. Whatever may be the dil-
ference Of opinion as TO the comparative merits
of the many modes of practically realizing this
purpose it is quite certain that the good faith
and best cXertions of our country are solemnlv
pledged to its fultilmcnt. We must try t-try
it sincerely. indefatigably, trustworthy try it
through all the diversified and promising chan.
nels--try it with no narrow eXclusveness of
choice or prejudice as to systems, sciences, or
arts. The intention of the bcnefactor was to
make his endowment perennial fountain Of
wisdom, as well practical as theorctic or imagi.
native, whose living waters should be nncea.
singlv dist rbutcd to advance the intelligence,
comfort, and happiness Of human beings.
When, at no distant day | trust it shall be
seen that within the walls of this building the
truths of nature are forced, by persevering re-
searches. from their hidden recesses. mingled
with the stock already boarded by genius and in
dustry, and thence profusely scattered by gra.
tutous lectures or publications for the benefit OF
all when it shall be seen that here universal
science finds food implements, and tribune
art, her spring to invention, her studio. and her
models and both shall have throngs of disciples
from the ranks of our people, emulous for en-
| lightenment or eager to assist-thcn, the condi-
ton of our legacy will have been performed,
and the wide philanthrophy of Smithson have
achieved its aim
! AS a beginning to the plan for effec,ng a re.
suit so interesting, Congress have deemed and
declared the erection of large and commodous
ediice indispensable. The board of Regents
were, by the legislative charter, instructed TO
select, as soon as they were organized, site,
and to cause a structure to be reared and
that structure to make '' of sufficient size,
and with suitable rooms or halls. for the re.
cepton and arrangement, upon liberal scale,"
first, of objects of natural history, including a
geological and meteorological cabinet second, of
a chemical laboratory third, of library 4th,
of gallery of art; fifth, of the necessary lee
ture rooms and si.rth, of the national cabinet of
curiosities and relics now poorly and partially
accommodated in the upper story of the Patent
office. 1t is the first duty Of the Regents to
obey the unequivoca behests of Congress-to
carry them out faithfully, on the scale and in
d. ,l,s~ k,o
measures flow, not from their own discretion,
but from the provisions of the law which they
are empowered to execute. say this in expla.
nation of the dimensions which the building
| must necessarily take. " ie a national -"~-O
consecrated to the various and boundless objects
that tend to increase and ditfuse knowledge"
Its erection will not subtract one dollar from the
fund entrusted by a generous stranger to the
care of our Government, but must be betrayed
by contribution voluntarily added by Congress
from our own treasury, under the name of in.
tcrest accrued before the LIST of July, 1916. 1t
is designed to participate, satellite, in the
duration and march of our glorious Union-to
be the depository of all the rare productions of
, nature and art which centuries may gather, and
| to throw open halls sufficiently ample to contain
the notwithstanding masses of our country
0 men. Congress have stamped this character
? upon it, by prescribing and appropratng its
y
g tive expressions OF their will.
g To conform strictly to instructions, and vet
f keep within the pecunary limits assigned to
. them-to provide the space called for, and vet
4 avoid even the appearance of unnecessary ex-
i pansion-to combine solidity with architectural
beauty and wholesome ventilation and to salts
fy at once true taste and stern economy by ban.
ishng useless establishment, were aims always
= controlling and uppermost with the Regents. -
F,v tInv baVn I,l,~,
and must be left to the candor of public opinion.
Not doubling that the experienced and reliable
contractors for the work will conpIisIi their
n undertaking, in all the details, with exactitude
and fidelity, may venture to give yon an antic.
ipation in brief of the building whose first stone
! is now laid.
;, Its exterior will present specimen of the
. style of architecture that prevailed some six
. centuries ago, chiefly in Germany. Normandy,
I and Southern Europe. which preceded the
. Gothic, and continues to recommend itself for
f structures like this, to the most enlightened
, judgment. 1t is known As the Norman or more
4 strictly speaking, the Lombard style. 1t har
= monies alike with the extent. the grave uses,
and the massive strength of the cdihcc it ex-
acts a certain variety in the forms Of It's parts
. and it authorizes any additions that convenience
e may require, no matter how seemingly irregu.
b lar they may be.
IL VIII extend, east ana west, an ntire front
: of four hundred and twenty six-feet, having a
+, central building of fifty by two hundred feet in
: the clear inside, with two towers /; two wing.
!, OF unequal fronts the east one fortv.fve BY
!, seventy-fvc feet in the clear, inside with 4
vestihule and porch attached to it the ives, one
thlrty-fonr by sixty-fve feet in the clear inside
I with northern sem-circular prolecton-
: These wings will be connected with the central
: building by two ranges sixty feet in length in the
, clear, inside. 1t will have central rear tower
and other towers of different heights sizes, and
: characters, two of them placed in the wings
: All these numerous towers are essential to ar
engagements within-as fues, stairwavs, vent-
: a,ors, and detached rooms-and are of different
heights, varying from sixty TO one hundred and
. fifty feet
: The first story of the central building will
: be occupied by the library, the chief lee
: turc room, and the principal hall the second
: story by the museum. The laboratory and
A chemical lecture room will occupy the east
: wing the gallery of art the western wing and
a western connecting range; and the national
cabinet of curosities may be in the eastern con-
E Meeting range. The chosen material is a free
q stone ola lilac grey color, drawn from quarry
d on the banks OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
near Seneca Creek, and but twenty three miles
: from this spot.
: 1t is gratifying 10 me to be able To accompany
. this imperfect sketch with the statement that
: the entire nile is to be finished and furnished and