The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-04-12

Auo ucQuootj III tho iaHSoaSo VI WV 'oS'e
tor, was " to found at Washington an estab-
ishment, under the name of The Smithsonian In.
stitut,on, for the increase and diffusion Of
knowledge dmong men,"
According 10 this, the. government of the
United States is merely q trustee The be-
quest is for the benefit Of mankind, and any
plan which does not recognise this provi-
sion of the will would be Ahberal and un-
just.
The Institution must bear and perpe,uate
the name of its founder: and hence its oper-
atioas ought 10 be kept distmc! from those
of the government, and all the good which
results from the expenditure of the fund
should be accredited to the name Of Smith
| son.
The object Of the bequest is twofold :
| first, to increase; and second, TO difuse
knowledge among meE. These two objects
are entirely distinct, and ought not TO be
confounded with one another. The first is
to enlarge The existing stock OF knowl-
edge by the addition Of new truths; and
The second TO disseminate knowledge,
thus enlarged, among men. The distinc-
ion is generally recognized BY men Of sci
ence, and in Europe different classes of SCI
eniific and other societies. are founded upon
| il. -
Again the viii makes % restriction ir
favor Of any particular kind of knowledge,
| aud hence all branches are entitled 10 a
share of attention. Smithson was well
! aware that knowledge should not be view ed
| as existing in isolated parts, but as whole,
each portion Of which throws light on all the
other, and that the tendency of all is 10 inn
prove the human mind, and to give 1t new
sources Of power and enjoyment. The most
prevalent idea, however, in relation TO the
will, is that the money was intended exclu-
sively for the diffusion of useful or irnmedi-
ately practical knowledge among the inhabi-
tants of this country, but it contains moth ing
from which such an inference can be drawn. +.
All knowledge is useful, and the higher the
more important. From The enunciaton Of
single scientific truth may flow hundred
inventions, and the higher The truth the more
important Inc oeduclonsA
To effect The greatest good, the organiza.
| ton OF the Institution should be such as TO
produce results which could not be attained
by other means, and inasmucb as the be.
quest is for men in general, all merely local
expenditures are violations of the will.
These views were not entertained al first,
and great difficulties have been encou n,et-
ed in carrying them out A number OF lit
erary men though, that great library should
be founded at Washington, and all the mon
ey expended on it. Others considered mo L.
scum the proper object; and another class
thought The income should be devoted TO
the delivery Of lectures throughout The coun.
try; while still another was of opinion that
popular tracts should be published and dis
tributed among tie million. But all these
were advanced without proper examina-
tion of the will, or due consideration OF
the smallness Of the income. The diffusion
of tracts has been favorite idea; but it
must be recollscted that single report Of
the Patent Office costs the government three
times as ffipch as the whole income Of the
Smithsonian fund. A single pamphlet Of
ten pages could not annually be printed BY
the Institution, and distributed to all who
would have claim to it.
/ The act Of Congress directed the forma-
lion of Z library, q museum, gallery OF
arts, lectures, and a building on liberal
scale 10 accommodate these objects. One
clause, however, gave the Regents the pow
er, after he foregoing objects are provided
for, 10 expend the remainder of the income
in any way they may think fit for carrying
out the design Of ihe tesla,or.
The objects specified in the act OF Con-
gress evidently don come up 10 the ldea
of the testator, as deduced from Critical ex.
animation of his will. A liaEary, q museum,
gallery of arts, though important in them
selves, are local in their Influence. have
from the beginning advocated this opinion
on all occasions, and shall continue to advo-
cate il whenever suitable opportunity oc'
tcurs.
The question, therefore, again recurs: whal
plan can be adopted in conformity with the
terms of the bequest2
There are two: First, number al men
may be appointed by the Institution TO make
researches in the different branches OF sci
ence, and 10 send accounts Of their discov-