Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-01-03
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

Notwithstanding the severity of the weather OF
late, we witness relaxation in the business OF i'm
proving and adjoining the public grounds around the
Smithsonian Edifce. The various broad drives and
walks, with their graceful curves, are all or
less advanced towards completion, their grading is
about finished and large portions of them are al
ready stoned and grayelled Ornamental trees are
also being plentifuy distributed which in the summer
cannot but add greatly the beauty grounds
and make them highly popular place of fashionable
promenade and resort.
As the bridge the canal Tenth street
shall have been completed and become passabe the gas
pipes conducting the lecture of the institution,
win be laid it. is this principally,
we earnwe the waiting for gas in the lecture
roomthat the winter lectures have not already begun
they will do by the time that direct be made
to the building from the city, which will be about the
twelfth of January. The bridge and the way from it to
the building to be handsomely lighted from the
pipes.
As to the lectures themselves we are able give q
general outline without however holding this
time to responsibility for complete precision The first
series of the for the will be from Dr. NAME
of Philadelphia, who will lecture the many highly in
erestng topics connected with the arctic expedition
foot by Mr. GnIsNELL of New York, for the recovery
V Sir JOHN FRANKLIN and his compai which Dr. Il
ACCOMPANY ID. The geology, oceanology, tural history,
atmospheric and other pecuarities and wonders of the
arctic regions will constitute the staple of Dr. KS series.
Second in the course will be probably series from the
learned and sagacious Prof AoAssn, upon branch
of his favorte field of study, the commxture of the
tura and supernatural in the worlds origin and arrange
ments. He may possibly discuss some of those moot
points between geology and theology which have moved
the minds Of many deep thinkers and honest men, both in
England and America If he should do this the occasion
will be indeed privileged one.
OF other Lecturers we can mention the distinguished
SLLIMANs of New Haven father and son; the former
his favorte topic geology the latter the kindred sci
ence of chemistry.
DR. HOPKINS, too, the highly able and accomplished
President of Williams College, Massachusetts, and truly
original and acceptable lecturer will address range
of subjects in mental and metaphysical philosophy, in
which the of genius and originality of thought
will be explored under the guidance of master mind
Dr.. ORyILLE DEWEY, the resident pastor of
gregaon in Washington, might be considered likely to
instruct, enghten and delight by experimentation
of his Lowell lectures, by something else entirely
and original from his wel-stored and active intellect
Prof WM. B. ROGERS, of the University of Virginia,
distinguished for his devotion to geology botany, and
chemistry viii be doubtless heard those interesting
sciences; and Prof G c. FELTON,, of Cambridge, whose
emnence in classic literature is every where acknowledge
ed In the learned world might be set down for SERIES In
which the beauties, ntrcacies, and philosophy of phi
ology, connected with ethnoogy, shall be made plain
and palpabe to the popular mind.
Still other lecturers the list; but shall
refrain from extending the present notice further than
to remark that the meeting of the Board of Regents win
take place during the first week of January at which the
Annual Report will be presented them 1t is altogether
likely that action will be taken at that time the
subject of the completion of the interior of the edce
those of readers whose leisure permits would
observe in closing that they find in the library and read
of the Institution avery extended range fer their
amusement and instruction In the current periodical
department particularly the reading is very well
supplied.