Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-06
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
FROM THE WASHINGTON NEWS.

that because no lectures are delivered in the build
ing, and the Regents are absent from the city, O
course the operations of the Institution must be sus
pended Another, equally wise on the subject, pro
ceeds to dilate upon the sinecure Offices which he
takes for granted held by the learned and scien
tifc gentlemen who are daily engaged in the build
ing When we inform the first inquirer that the
lectures" are among the most triing items in the
plan of organizing the Institution and that in point
Of value even calculated in dollars and cents they afford
no idea Of the amount of scientific general knowledge
which is yearly added to the stock already by
mankind, we hope friend will be partially satisfied
And when the fact is known that the officers of the Ins
tuition frequently found until nine and ten o'clock at
night closely investigating the important subjects which
they called almost daily to- anayze and pass udg
ment upon, quietus may be given those who honestly
believe the labor required at the Institution is easily per-
formed Of tring amount SO far from ths the utter
impossibty of attending promptly the multfarious
and increasing business Of the Institution by its present
numerical force is serious hindranee many works of
investigation now in progress and of which require
the highest ability and patient industry
The matter of Correspondence" alone is sufficient to
employ at least individuals whole time in the CLASH
fcaon reference, and arrangement of topics The In
sttuton embraces in its correspondence all learned
Societies OF the United States, and large number of
high rank in France, England, Germany Belgium, Prus-
sia and other European States The item postage
present year WILL it is expected exceed one thousand
dollars.
The great work of Prof Jewett, in obtaining CON-
pete catalogue Of the books libraries of the United
States is one attended with amount of labor which
few persons out of the building would readily conceive
To come, however readily to our purpose we
should state in the outset that the Smithsonian Institu
ton is quietly but steadily and successfully developing
its original plan of organization opening new fields Of
philosophical research increasing the of knowledge
not only in the United States but in all civilized nations
and commanding name and respect every where thus
rejecting honor upon country, and at the time
strictly adherng to the provisions of that noble bequest
in virtue of which the institution is founded
Before proceeding further specifically the
works which occupying the attention of the Instit
on must bear in mind that the fund $3.50 00O) for
the yearly prosecution of its grand design is small COM
pared with the expenses which inevitably accrue
The numerical working force consists of but four Of
fcers exclusive of some little assistance from copyis
which we win name follows: Prof Joseph Henry,
Secretary of the Institution Prof c. c. Jewe Assistant
Secretary, in charge of the Library Prof S. T. Baird
Assistant Secretary in charge of the Museums Dr. Ed
ward Foreman General Assistant" In regard to the
plan pursued in prosecuting the object of the phian-
hropc testaor it must be observed that it is logically
and correctly deduced from the Smthsons
will Wecannot present this clearly as by an extract
from the Programme of the Institution" projected
by Prof Henry, and adopted by the Board of Regents
va Of Smthson.-The property is bequeathed to the
United States of America to found Washington un-
der the name of the Smithsonian Institution an esta
bllshment Tor the increase and diffusion of knowledge
among men,
The bequest is for the benefit of mankind The Gov
eminent of the United States merely trustee to carry
out the design of the testator
The Institution is not national establishments as is
frequently supposed but the establishment of an ind
yidua, and is to bear and perpetuate his
The objects Of the Institution are 1st increase and
3D. to difuse knowledge among men.
These two objects should not be COMPOUNDED with one
another The first is to enlarge the existing stock of
knowledge by the addition of truths and the second
to disseminate knowledge thus increased among men,
The will makes restriction in favor of any particular
kind of knowledge; hence all branches entitled to
share Of attention.
knowledge can be increased by different methods of
facilitating and promoting the discovery of new truths
and can be most extensively difused among men by
means of the press.
To effect the greatest good the organization
should be such enable the Institution produce re-
suits, in the way of Increasing and dusiag knowledge
which be produced either all or so efficiently by
the existing institutions in country
The organization should also be such can be adopted
professionally can be easily reduced to practice, receive
notifications, or be abandoned in whole in part with
out a sacrifice Of the funds.
Besides the foregoing considerations deduced imme
diately from the viii Of Smithson regard be had
to certain requirements Of the of Congress establish
ing the Institution. These library, museum and
gallery of art with building liberal scale to con-
tain them
Now by the terms of the will, the first and greatest
purpose of the bequest knowledge that is
by making positive additions, not the stock generally
known, but by the elicitaton of facts The design
was therefore not to post up and spread old FORMS
but to increase the of human knowledge by all avail
able We learn that this view of Smithsons in
tentons has been fully corroborated by the recent dis
covery of portion Of his correspondence showing that
he originally intended his immense wealth for the use of
the Royal Society Of London IAN institution acting entire
y upon the plan above stated and Of which he was
member j but falling into ill humor with that learned
body in regard to scientific paper of his own he deter
mined to fulfil his intention of founding institution to
increase knowledge at the capital Of the United States
AS the feature Of the programme above quoted by far
the most important shall here nsertts "Details of the
plan to Increase knowledge: :"
By Stimulating researches-Rewards offered for original
memoirs on all branches of knowledge.
The memoirs thus obtained to be published in series
OF volumes in quarto form, and entitled Smithsonian
Contributions to knowledge.
No memoir subjects of physical science TO be ac
cepted for publication which does not furnish positive
addition to human knowledge, resting on original re
search and all unverifed speculatons be rejected
Each memoir presented to the Institution to be submit
ed for examination to commission of persons of reput
ion for learning in the branch to which the memoir ner
tans and to be accepted for publication only in case the
eport of this commission is favorable.
The commission to be chosen by the officers of the In
Sttuon and the OF the author as far ne practica