The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-24

kalstcry OF the Smithsonian Insaitueaeu.
One Of the Dukes Of Northumberland, in the ha1
csns1y, nsd ssn' Who. taking his mother's aans.
Gated ct Oxford, whore he took the degree Of A. q.
In 1855. BE was man Of quiet unassuming hahits.
with taste for scientific pursuits. A ANAL pgc.
perty be inherited nom his mother, and an annsi =
crafty this tasse during his HE. In 1887 he was
chosen member Of the Royal Society, to whosa
philosophical Transactions' he communicated
several valuable papers. He was the associate q
and attained some distinction as . chemist.
Frugal In his habits, and prudent In his invegt-
ments, his oompetence gradually increased To- Sbr-
family tier. The latter part Of his life b spent mo
~ on the Continent. He never visited AmeEica.
and knew II only from such reports g Ensliak
travellers at that time were accustomed TO gve q
property 70 his next Of kin, nephew for lls, sad
to bis children, absolutely and forever.
But a. there was remote possibility that the win
might be frustrated by the death Of the legatees.
case the property should descend 10 the UniNed
States Of America, to found at Washington under
the name Of the Smithsonian Institution, an estab
smoDg men" It contempIated ' ) distant No. 49,
gercy only, and probably was not inserted from av
being carried out.
1929, leaving property to the amount OF fl20yoo
sterling. His nephew died without issue, five g
six years after, at Pisa.
The United States were then, for the first t.e,
notified Of the bequest which had fallen to then.
Congress- immt diately passed law authorizing tbs
President to appoint an agent to apply to the EnGs
hsh Court OF Chancery for the real and pet.cnat
Of the government" (this was before the Nsbrasla
bill had proved how little reliance could be place.
on that) for the application Of the fund to the pa
poses specified. Hon. Richard Rush, Of Philadek
England obtained the property, and paid It. in go1
In September, 1888.
It Was invested, by order Of Congress, in Arkss-
sas st0cke. Here 1t bad another narrow ohanco e
being lost. For Arkansas stocks soon began to -
down. downtown, and shortly became wGh
about as much as Indiana bank bills are now. Buk
Congress- thinking 1t but right to repair the conss-
quences of its own error, assumed the stocks g
par value, and reinvested the amount In the United
States Sixes
There was no family to take or claim the house.
America. TIE visiter at the Patent Oiice, q
Washington, will find one OF the glass cases devoted
to the preservation Of the personal effects of the
late James Smithson, Esq" Among these relies
are his plate, walking stick, inkstand, chcmioaS
Ire original fund was $5l5 ,l6o, and the sccuua-
lated interest amounted, in 1885, to $242 l29. Co..
sidering this enough to begin with, Congress. =
RocoC0
the institution. Il provided for he appointment a
board Of fifteen regents, minstely sPesfyiog -
qualifications required, and devotes tho accruing
% interest to defrayirg the expenses Of erecting 9
building, with library, museum, laboratory n
Washington. The principal IL not to bs trenchea
upon, but to remain q permanent loan. The PFC
sent edifiee on the Mall was accordingly co..
menced. s. 't.a,l..
The well known ability ard scientific attsinmeu1u
Of Professor Joseph Henry, Of Prince on, led to hs
being called to the Office Of Secretary, and the d
ties Of experimenting the institution. The prcseut
Board Of Regents consist Of Chief Justice Tanoy.
Senators Pearce, Of Maryland; Mason, Of yirginis;
ord nogsas, q llj2osi Msa1T5a Eaglss }e@ss.ss
OF Representatives; Mr.. Towers, the Mayor OF WaGh
ineton; Rufus Choato, Of Massachusetts,; Gidesa
Hawley, Of New York; Judge Berrien, Of Georgiss
r. Mcbsr1 Rush. Of Pennsylvania; ProieasOr Bachss
same State.
The building is now nearly completed. Tho an
nual income s $50 O10. How this s to be dis ,osod
Of, we leave for the subject or another article.