The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-01


ac,nres OF publications. Tor the benefit OF all when
S he seen that here universal science hnds food IN
dement's and tribune--art, her spring to invention
ber studio and her models and both shall nave tnfohgf
scpes from the ranks OF our people, emulous Tor en-
ghlenmen or eager to assst-then the condlton OF ouI
eyacy will have been performed, and the wide phlan
S5ony OF Smithson have achieved It's ann
hernning 10 the plan for efiectng result so IN
as,nr Congress have deemed and declared the eIec-
ION Of large and commodious edihce indispensable
The hoard OF regents were, by the legislative charter m
s,ced to select, as they were organized site
"a m cause a structure TO be reared and that structure TO
le sol sufficient size and with suitable rooms or halls,
ir The reception and arrangement upon Liberal SCALE
S of objects of natural history including geological
III o;ner logical cabinet; second, OF chemical labolalo-
anu ANU %Ird OF a library fourth, OF gallery OF arts mn, OF
,6e necessary lecture rooms; and SLh o the hallonai
cabnei OF curoses and relics, now poorly and partially
accommodated in the upper story oil the fatent Omce IL
be FIRST duty OF the regents 10 obey the unequvocal
hests of Congress-to carry them out faithfully, on the
Gale and in the spirit they obviously import; and to
Il, tbeir measures iow not from their own discretion,
bn from the provisions oil the law which they are en-
COVERED now to execute say this in explanation of the
dimensions which the building must necessarily take II
ia national oneconsecraed to the various and bound
loss objects that tend to increase and dillnse knowledge
la erecon will not subtract one dollar from the fund en-
sted BIZ generous stranger to the OF our govern
mani bui must be betrayed by a contribution voluntarily
,JJed by Congress from our own treasury, under the
name OF interest accrued before the st OF July 1916 1t
designed to participate, satellite, in the duration
and march of our glorious Unonto be the depository OF
All b rare productions OF nature and art which centuries
nav rather and TO throw open halls sufficiently ample
a. contain the Notwithstanding masses OF our
uo,rymen Congress have stamped this character upon
by prescribing and appoprlating Its vast interior COM
artments and by other positive expressions OF Their Will
To conform strictly to instructions, and yet keep with
In the pecunary limits assigned to themto provide the
mace called for and yet avoid even the appearance OF
unnecessary expansiono combine sohdlty with arch-
ectIra beauty and wholesome ventilaton--and to sat
E at once true taste and stern economy by banishlng
annhplli shm pnt--Wpre ALWAYS controlling
and uppermos with the regents. How far they have
succeeded time will show and must be left the candor
Of public opinion Not doubling that the experienced
and reliable contractors for the work will accomplish
their undertaking in all lis details with exactltude and
fjeitv may venture to give you an anticipation III
Jriei OF the building whose first stone is now laid
It's exterior will present a specimen OF the style OF
architecture that prevailed six centuries ago, chiefly
in GERMANY Normandy, and southern Europe, which
preceded the Gothic, and continues TO recommend ITSELF
for structures like this, TO the most enlightened Juds
neaknr the Lombard style 1t hafmonizes alike with
he extent the grave uses, and the massive strength OF
1.-The edfce it exacts certain variety IN the forms OF ITS
arts and authorizes any additions that convenience
may require, no matter how seemingly irregular lhey
|may be-. -,
hundred and twenty-six feet, having central building
al 6ity by two hundred feet the clear, inside, with
Two towers; two wings OF unequal ironts-the east one
ioty.fye BY seventy five feet in the clear, inside, with
vesbule and porch attached to it, the west one thirty
four by sixy-ve feet in the clear INSIDE with north
em scm.circular projection. These wings will be con-
nected with the central building by two ranges sixty feet
lin length IN the clear, inside II will have central rear
Tower and other towers of different heights Sizes and
chaacters-two of them placed in the wings All these
numerous towers essential to arrangements within
as hues staways, ventlaors, and detached roomsand
are OF different heights, varying from sixty to one hun
lred and fifty feet
by the library, the chief lecture room, and the principal
a the second story by the museum The laboratory and
chemical lecture room will occupy the east wing the gal
|ey of art the western wing and western connecting
range and the national cabinet of curlosltes may be
lin the eastern connecting range The chosen material Is
Ia eestone of lilac grey color, drawn from quarry on
the banks OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal near Sene-
lea creek, and but twenty three miles IRON this spot
is gratifying to me 70 be able to accompany this i'm
perfect sketch with the statement that the entire pile is to
be finished and furnished, and fitted up, for sum less,
by thirty thousand dollars than the one sci apart
BY Congress as applicable to the building alone
How best to put this Smithsonian Institution IN prog
pss; to give it definite character and views; to shape
Its line OF march Congress has either ordered or in-
mated that il should be and to let the esamentay pur
pose be apparent in all its operations, task on
which ability and much consultation have been eypend-
ed There werel may almost say--necessarily, and oil
there were, this cardinal point great dverses
OF sentiment and construction, there had been during
the mastery debates which prefaced the passage OF the
law What constituted "knowiedge" in the sense OF
Smithson's bequest In what manner shall ITS "'n-
crease" be provided for By what methods shall It's
diffusion" be sought? Should the developments OF
the laboratory be more engrossng than the stored re-
sources of the library VIII oral expositions, printed
reases be preferable Are permanent proiessorships
TO be sysiemazed temporary teachers to be enlisted
In fine, what should be the instruments and the orbit OF
an establishment whence the light OF knowledge was re-
CURED constantly to radate among men
They TO whom conlded the resolution oil these
problems into practical measures, have felt the weight
land decacy of their mission. They began by profound
Y studying the subec in its several aspects They cher
shed with ardor, and discussed with freedom their re-
H,rfgr
Ter, rarely fail 10 end III mutual and compro
mise and thus scarcely single measure was adopted eX
cep BY unanimous concurrence The regents have sub
United their abors and conclusions to the couniry-the
report Of their proceedings duly made forleglsatlve
supervision and may they not fdently hope Tor (what
they know nothing of theirs can succeed Withou the
cooperation and sympathy Of the American people
There results to be anticipated IRON the sue
cess Of the institution which, though not as obvious as
others, neverthess such as sound American heart
can wholly disregard and which il may not be misplaced
10 glance at That shall fulfil, in the presence OF
walchiu civilization, admitted obligation, and that the
common mind OF country, on which the permanency
lis Liberties closely depends, will be exalted and IN
vgoaied are considerations abundany strong to rally
Us all TO the manly effort No greater shame, and no
greater loss can readily be incurred than would be con-
|sequent on gnobe failure But may il not be Justly said
hat the mild and genial influence of this establishment
viii strengthen and tighten the cords OF our Union, ana
give to the capital of that Union new charm, with great
Ter stability!
The Smithsonian design Isl as have already suggest,
lea, peculiar one Ii cannot, as scene OF educational
tanning, have any pretensons or provoke any eaouses
no rival of the many admirable schools which aiorn
respective States, and in no manner ntruie upon
helr spheres of action. Yet it will be factory and
9ore-house OF knowledge accessible to all the agents OF
ms vast confedeacy Its executive, legislative, judicial,
St military, foreign, and domestic agents Ii will be
ne RECIPIENT too of such fruits of the abors and such
acquisitions of the enterprise and travels of these agents
may Contribute to illustrate, and explain, and facilitate
ne public service or TO give precision and vgor to ITS
pealons Of every kind As resource and sanctuary
q intellect the institution hardly fail to become an