Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-09-25

! TO- The Managers of the Smithsonian
Institute having extended their investig alton.
for scientific purposes, to these islands, where
meteorological observations are daily KEEP
by Mr.. E. G. Beckwith for their use, We
presume the following sketch of the origir
and design of that organization will be &C
ceptable to our readers.
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE.
The Smithsonian Institute derives its name
and endowment from James Smithson, ESQ.
of England
MIR. Smithson was son of the first Duke
of Northumberland. He was educated al
Oxford, where he distinguished himself. by
his scientific attainments. In 1887, the year
after taking his masters degree, he was
elected Fellow Of the Royal Society. To
the Philosophical Transactions, he contribu.
ted, at different times, eight valuable papers
He was an associate of most of the eminent
men Of science of the last generation in Eng
land, and was much respected for his pro-
ficiency in the department of chemistry, as
well as for his amiabIe and unassuming man.
ners. He had no fixed residence, and formed
no family ties. The last years of his life
died at Genoa, June 9th, 1879.
From the property which he received by
his mother, and the ample annuity allowed
him by his father, his frugaIity enabled him
to accumulate a fortune, which, at the time
of his death, amounted to about l2O, 900
pounds sterling.
By his will, he directed that the income of
this property-aiter deducting some small
annuities should be paid to his nephew,
Henry James Hungerford, during his life,
and that the property itself should descend to
his children, if he had any, absolutely and
! forever
"In case of the deathnf my said nephew
without leaving child, OF children, he may
have had, under the age of 81 years, or in
testate, / then bequeath the whole of my
property (subject to an annuity of 100 pounds
to John Fitall, and for the security and pay
ment Of which mean stock to remain in this
country to the United States Of .4merica, to
found at Washington, under the name Of the
Smithsonian Institute, an estabt shment for The
increase and diffusion Of kno,cledge among
men,"
Such are the words of the will, and the on
ly words of Smithson, which have come to us
relating to this remarkable bequest
OF the reasons which led him to make this
disposal of his fortune, we know nothing. ex-
cept by inference. He was never in Ameri-
ca, had no friends or acquantances here,
and is supposed to have. had no particular
fondness for republican institutions. No sem
tence among his papers, no book in his libra
Of iafo
that he had made our country an object of
special thought or study. 1t was, we may
suppose, to perpetuatc his name as the friend
and patron of science and learning that he
made this bequest; and it is the highest COM
pliment that he could paw our country, to Sc
lect it as the Trustee of his noble purposes
and to abstain from trammelling the legacy
by any condition, restriction, reservation, or
direction.
Young Hungerford died at Pisa, on the 5th
of June, 1886, without issue. The ever.
thus occurred in (which the claim of the
United States attached. The Particulars Of
the bequest were communicated to our go
vernment, and both houses of Congress pass
ed bill which was approved the first of Ju-
ly, 1886, authorizing the President to ap
po'It an agent to prosecute, in the Court of
Chancery in England, the right of the Uni
ted States to the bequest; and pledging the
faith of the United States to the application
of the fund to the purposes designed by the
donor
Hon. Richard Rush, of Philadelphia, was
by the President appointed the agent of the
United States He proceeded to England,
instituted suit in the Court of Chancery,
recovered the fund and paid it into the Trea-
sury of the United States, in sovereigns,
during the month of September, 1888.
The amount of fund at this time was S5l5-
I69. 1t was not till eight years after this
period, the 10th of August, 1916, that the
act establishing the Smithsonian Institution
was finally passed.
This act creates an establishment, to be
called the Smithsonian Institute, composed
of the President and Vice President of the
United States, the Secretaries of State, the
Treasury, of war, and the Navy, the Post
Master General, and Mayor of Washington,
with such others as they may elect Honorary
Members. 1t devolves the immediate go-l
vernment of the Institution upon Board OF
Regents Of fifteen members, namely; the
Vice President Of the United States, the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the
Mavor .of the citv of Washington, ex-officio,