Washington sentinel., 1854-07-16
Wasbingtnu ssutins
The Smithsonian Institution.

-
The Smithsonian Institution.
Report of the Special COMMITTEES Of the Board OF
Regents of The Smithsonian Institution, on
the Distribution Of the Income Of the Smith
soniaa Faad, dc.
Hon. J. A. PEARoR, chairman of the special CON-
mittee* appointed by the Board of Regents OF
the Smithsonian Institution. TO which was re-
ferred the resolutions of Hon. Mr.. FITCH and
Hon. Mr. MEAcHAM relative to the distribution
OF the income of the Smithsonian fund, DC,
made the following report
The committee who were directed to report
whether it is desirable to make any changes In
the distribution Of the income of the Institu
ton, in the manner contemplated by the origi-
nal plan of organization, report as follows:
The distribution aud application of the
Smithsonian iAcome should be made, so as to
answer most efectualy and benehcially, the
purposes for which the institution was endowed
and established. In making such distribution
and application, the regents should faithfully
observe the requirements of the act of Congress
establishing the Institution, and exercise no
discretion but that which the law allows 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 act to establish
the Smithsonian Institution for the increase
and diffusion Of knowledge among men," The
preamble states the bequest, by James Smith
son, of all his property to the United States, to
found ut Washington, under the name of the
Smithsonian Institution, "an establishment for
the increase and diffusion of knowledge among
men, 1t declares the acceptance of the trust,
and therefore for the faithful execution Of
the said trust according to the will Of the lib
eral and enlightened donor" the first section
constitutes an establishment by the name of
the Smithsonian Institution " for the increase
and diffusion OF knowledge among men,"
The fifth section enacts that the regents
shall cause to be erected /" a suitable building
of sufficient size, and with suitable rooms or
halls for the reception and arrangement, upon
q liberal scale, of objects of natural history,
including geological and mineralogical cabi-
net; also chemical laboratory, library, a
gallery OF art, and the necessary lecture rooms,
DC" This section points out certain means
and instrumentalities by which the institution
is to execute the trust" "according 10 the
will of the liberal and enlightened donor"
But it does not limit the regents to these means
and instrumentalities. A large discretion is
elsewhere given to them to employ other means
and instrumentalities "for the promotion of
the purpose of the testator''-that is, for the
increase and diffusion of knowledge among
men,"
The eighth section, in its last clause directs
an annual appropriation from the interest OF
I, the funds belonging to the institution not ex-
the gradual formation of library composed of
valuable works pertaining to all departments of
human knowledge"
And the ninth section enacts that of " apy
other moneys which have accrued, or shall
hereafter accrue, as interest upon the said
Smithsonian fund.- not herein appropriated, or
not required for the purposes herein provided,
the said managers lregents are hereby autho
rized to make such disposal as they shall deem
best suited for the promotion of the purpose
of the testator, anything herein contained to
the contrary Notwithstanding"
Let us 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 mate
rails, with suitable rooms for the reception and
arrangement upon liberal scale, of the OBJ.
jects mentioned in the fifth section of the act.
The building, it is true, is not 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
was necessarily within the discretion of the
regents 1t was obvious that If they should not
hurry its completion, but extend the work upon
il through series Of years, they would save a
large amount of accruing interest, which, when
the building should be finished, might be added
to the permanent fund, whereby the means Of
accomplishing the purposes Of the testator
would be largely increased. An additional
Co. Al IL
slowly and cautiously erected, would be more
was adopted, and it was determined that the
building should be finished in five years. An
accident, well known to the board, and which
in the end must prove to have been fortunate
required change in the plan Of part Of the
edihce, and larger expenditure of money
This cause has further delayed the completion
of the building. But during the present year
it viii be finished on the liberal scale REQUIRED
By the law, and one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars Of accrued interest will be saved. TO be
added to the principal.
ln the mean time, the regents have made
appropriations Of money for the various objects
specified in the fifth section ofthe act, by which
and other means they have complied as well
with the letter as the spirit Of the law. A large
and valuable collection of objects of natural
hisNOil bao oeen tnhue, anu LOT tDe most part,
classified; geological and mineralogical cab.
met has been provided, and chemical labora-
tory has been fitted up, in which researches
and experiments have been made. The build.
ing contains an apartment intended for a gal.
{ lery Of art; and some works of art, valuable
collection Of engrayings, have been purchased.
A lecture room has been finished, and for
several years lectures have been given at the
expense Of the Institution, on scientific and lite.
rsry, abstruse and popular subjects, the admis.
sion to which has been free A library, OF
$4,000 volumes and 5000 pamphlets and parts
OF volumes, has been acquired by purchase, ex.
changes, and other means, containing many
rare and valuable works pertaining to all
branches Of knowledge, such as are not to be
found IN general libraries, and are most highly
priced by men Of science and research.
: This very good beginning according to the
plan for the gradual formation Of a library.
which the act points out.
OF the entire amount expended from the
: commencement of the Institution, little less
than one-eighth has been given to researches
and publications. The rest has been applied
TO the special objects mentioned in the act and