American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-31
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH


In the Fifth Annual Report of the Board O
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, for the
year 1850, we find, in the report of Professor
JEwETT upon the affairs of the library, the fol,
lowing remarks relative to tho appropriateness
OF our city for the location Of such an cstab-
lishmcnt as the Smithsonian Institution We
quote them with much approbation:
"The experience of the last year would seem
to decide the question Of the appropriateness OF
this location for such an institution. An estab-
lishment like this must have fixed position
somewhere. Yet its benefits arc for all; not
for one city nor one section Of country, nor one
nation even, but for 'MANKIND.' 1t is not to
be denied that large city, like New York, OF
Philadelphia,or Or Boston, offers many advantages
for the operations OF such an institution not
possessed by this city. 1t is, nevertheless al
most beyond question that the comparison OF
advantages is in favor of this very place. There
is no spot which presents so many attractions
for the class of men most Immediately Interested
in its concerns no city which they more gladly
visit. The high officers Of state and the foreign
diplomatic corps reside here Here are held the
sessions of Congress Here are the executive de-
partments of the Government, the Patent Office,
the Office of the Coast Survey, and the Obserya-
tory Every man, throughout the whole extent
Of the land, feels that here he has frend-a
Representatives. through whom he may commu-
nicate with such an establishment, when he
cannot visit it in person. The facilities for the
kind Of intercourse which we need with other
countries are, by the help of the State Depart
ment and Of foreign ministers, greater than at
any other point. More than ALL the establish
ment here possesses character of nationality
which would not elsewhere attach to its move
ments In the eyes Of our own people and of
foreigners. This it was, undoubtedly, which
led its founder to direct that the Institution
should be established in Washington. Besides
all this, it is enabled to multiply it's influence
and usefulness, by acting in concert with the
departments of the National Government.
'The inhabitants of a city where such an
institution is established must, of necessity,
share more largely in its benefits than others
more remote 1t is gratifying to know that this
advantage could fall nowhere more appro-
priately, more benignly, or less invidiously,
than upon this city. Selected and planned as
for the seat of government Of mighty empire
a spot where nature laid her hand most grace
fully-.Washington has not hitherto been able,
like her sister cities, to gather from commerce
wealth for the endowmcnts Of learning. From
the nature of our political institutions, she has
been deprived, too, of that fostering munifcence
which in Europe has reared splendid capitals
from the sandy plain or sunken morass, and
supplied them not only with all that can meet
the convenience and crafty the taste of their
inhabitants, but also with Universities Scien-
tifc Societies, and Libraries, for the advance
ment Of civilization, refinement, and human
happiness"