The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-01-28
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

We acknowledged in our last, the rceep.
ton from Judge Butler, of the report on
the Smithsonian Institution. As every one
may not be acquainted with the foundation
and history OF this Institution, we copy the
following in relation to it from the South
toro!i"iGa.
ut will not be out Of place to remind our
readers of the history aud character of this
institution, which takes its name from Mr..
Smithson, hlegitimatc son Of the Duke Of
Northumberland, whose family name is
Smithson. He died some fourteen years
ago, leaving his whole property, which
amounted To ubout five h ndrrd thousand
dollars, TO the United States of America,
ito found. nj Washington. under the name
of the SM THSo2IAY ~l,sTITUTIoN, an cstab-
lishmcnt for the increase and diffusion of
know ledge among r,cn." The general char.
acicr of this whole provision brcamr,as NAV
well be imagined, very embarrassing. Tn
lcgatcc, II whole confcdrracy the object,
diffusion and increase Of knowledge" and
49, ' : ~ = wv ''''' NV
cans /, The d ouor must have had in his
mind the great destiny Of tho nited States
and must have believed that at some future
age these United States would form a fit
focus to concentrate and rGdiate the beams
ct knowledge over the earth. Still, the
embarrassment resulting from this unlimi.
tcdHcss. became SO great, and the danger
that the grant would be mi>uscd for party
or J"bbing purposes, was at one time felt so
severely. that we remember our Senator in
Congress. Mr. Preston. proposed to waive
the whole legacy, anu decline receiving the
sum. This did not however, meet with the
views Of Congress, and the Smithsonian In
stitution has. been established.
l. would take too much space were we t.
give an accurate acroun, of the whole plan;
nor has the whole plan, which has been
adopted. gone into full operation. 1t viii
suffice for readers 10 learn lhat at IN carly
period, Doctor Henry. then Professor "f
Natural Philosophy at Princeton College,
u gentleman who had established . high
reputation in America and Europe bv most
Important discoveries, was appointed S;ccrc-
taiy of the Institution. lie elaborated tI.c
plan which waS ultimately adopted. and of
Which thu outlines are these The ~Institu.
ton is situated at Washington, where il has
a library and laboratories the Institution
calls, annually, Il number Of gentlemen to
a~s'ington,t I" lecture on a variety of sub.
Jc'tS, during the session f Congress il
Publishes Contributions" No pap.r can
nr published which does not receive tho
favorable opinion, us to it's substantial
worth, OF a committee appointed for the
special paper. Several volumes. containing
very important papers, have already been
rabIiohrd.
The Institution also assists philosophical!
Inquiries, too lUborious or expensive for in.
d"idnHl cxertion. Ii is, farther. the iutcn.
ZION OF publishing annually, popular cxposrs
Of al that has been done during the pas,
year IN the different branches Of knowledge.
IN such volumes rs To cnIllc each person
to possess himself Of the one he stand, in
VI
particular need of, III his own and special
pursuit. 1t Is also the object of he %!nstitu.
ton To aid in The publication of those sub
siauii"I wOrks wEirh are of the greatest use
in the promotion of kHowlcd %, and vet do
not command Il large salc-works, whicl, in
Earopc receive the assistance Of govern
mchis, which cannot b. extended to them
in this country, owing TO The peculiar char.
ac,cr of our Government.
The government consists OF Trms;cea, or
Regents, of whom the Virc-Prcsldcnt is nj.
ways The presiding officer, and of whom the
numbers Of The Cabinet arc cr-oCicio MEN,
brrs. The Senate, MS well the House of
Representatives of the United States. elect
other members, and the whole board elect
additional members in the various parts of
the Unitcd States