The daily union., 1854-10-17
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

Mr. Pearce chairman of the special committees appoint
ed by the Board Of Regents Of the Smithsonian Institution
to whom referred the resolutions OF Hon Nj Fitch
and Hon. Mr. Meacham relative to the distribution OF the
income of the Smithsonian fund, &c, made the following
report:
desirable to make changes in the distribution of the
income of the institution, in the manner contemplated by
the original plan Of organization, report as follows'
The distribution and application OF the Smithsonian in
come should be made to most efectualy and
bene6cally the purposes for which the institution was en-
dowed and established In making such distribution and
application the Regents should faithfully observe the
quirements Of the act of Congress establishing the instu-
tion and exercise discretion but that which the law al
lows to them
The purpose of the institution is disclosed in the title of
the act in its preamble and in its first section The title is
An establish the Smithsonian Institution for the in
crease and diffusion of knowledge among men, The pre-
ambe states the beques by James Smithson of all his
property the United States to found at Washington,
under the Of the Smithsonian Institutions 'an esab-
lishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge
among men, II declares the acceptance of the trust and
therefore for the faithful execution of the said trust
cordng to the will of the liberal ana enlightened donor
the first section constitutes an establishment by the name
of the Smithsonian Institution ior the increase and ou-
sion of knowledge among men"
The fifth section enacts that the egsats shall cause TO
be erected M suitable building, Of sufficient ze and with
suitable haa for the reception and arrangement
upon liberal scale of objects OF natural history pcnd-
ing geological and meteorological cabinet aso, cheni-
cal laboratory library gallery of art and the necessary
lectre-rooms &c This section points out certain
and ipstrumentaltes by which the Institution is to
cue the trust according the will of the liberal and
liphened donor But il does not limit the regents to
these means and nstrumenialities large discretion is
elsewhere given to them to employ other and nstruv
mentatie for the promotion Of the purpose of the tesa
ortha is for the increase and diffusion of knowledge
| among men,
The eighth section, in its last clause, directs annual
appropriation from the interest of the funds belonging to
the institution, not exceeding average of S25000
nually or the gradual formation of library composed of
valuable works pefiejpng 10 all departments OF human
/ know ledge
And the ninth section enacts that OF any OTHER moneye
which have accrued shall hereafter accrue interest
upon the said Smithsonian fund not herein appropriated
required for the purposes herein provided the said
managers regcnts hereby authorized to make such
disposal they shall deem best suited for the promotion OF
the purpose OF the tesato thing herein contained to
| the contrary Notwithstanding"
Let see now, how far the regents have complied with
| these requirements OF the law,
They have caused to be erected building, which is in
the judgment of the board suitable of sufficient SIZE OF
plain and durable materials with suitable rooms for the
reception and arrangement upon liberal scale OF the OBJ
ieets mentioned in the fifth section of the act The building
t is true is yet completed in all its parts This has
been the result partly of design and partly OF accident
AS the law specified no period within which the building
should be completed the time of its completion neces-
sary within the discretion OF the regents obvious
that if they should not hurry its completion, but extend
the work upon through series Of years they would
large amount of accrung interest which, when the build
ing should be finished, might be added TO the permanent
fund whereby the means of accomplishing the purposes OF
the tsstator would be largely increased An additional
ously erected would be solid and pefmapeai Tbs
policy, therefore, adopted and il determined that
the building should be finished in Ave years. An accident
well known the board and which in the end prove
10 have been fortunate required change in the plan OF
part Of the eafc and larger expenditure of money This
cause has further delayed the completion of the building
But during the present year win be finished on the lib
era scale required by ths Law, and hundred and fy
thousand dollars of accrued interest will he saved 10 be
| added to the principal
In the time the regents have made appropriations
OF money for the various objects specified in tn fifth sec
ton Of the 9e y ghch and other they have con'
i piled wen with tae letter the spirit Of the law
large and valuable collection Of objects Of natural history
has been made and for the most part classified eeoiog
ce and meteorological cabinet has been provided, and
chemical laboratory has been fitted up Ia which researches
and experiments have been made The building eunta6s
an apartment intended for gallery of arti and some
I works Of art valuable collection of engravings have
\ been purchasce
\ iecureroom has been nnisneo sag for several years
lectures have been given at the expense OF the nsu
This committee consisted of the following regents Hon
u j. A. Pearce, Hon. j. NJ Mason Hon. Richard Rush. Hon.
John Maury, Cen j. g. Toten Prof A. d. Bache, and the
Hon j. Mcacham The gentleman last named does not con
] cur in this