The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-03-19
The Smithsonian lnssitution---Its Objects
and Value.

I have, for The fret time, visited the Smith
sonian Institution. The buildng 10 unique,
and its architecture persents . pleading con-
ts.st with thst Of the surrounding puelis
huildinRs. Few visitors 70 this lnstitusisn.
are raors fortunate than l vss. in hsving
attentions Faid TO thsm. spent the grssssr
portion Of two days in IL, snd, during the
whole Of this time, was accompanied ~ either
Prof Baird. Prof. Henry, or Prof. N.wberry.
was conducted throughout the length.
breadth and depth Of the institution. and sas
shwsa the thousands upon thousands speci-
mems Of Natural His,ory. deposited in the
Institution By every Exploring Expedition
which has returned since the Institution hes
In existeuss. confess that l sntered the
sdiscs with prejudio+s against the institution, |
but the truth soon dispvlled the erroneous
impressions had received. l now consider
IL the greatest Institution for the Advancement
Of the Natural Sciences. Of which have any
knowlsdge. To form proper estimate OF
What sdvantsgei may be to men Of aseien-
TIC turn OF mind. in the Uiou. it 10 necessary
to understand what is proposes 10 do, and
what facilities il has, 10 communicate It's In
tsntions. Suppose my friend, Mr.. Klrkpat.
rick. wishss 10 study the Fishes Of Ohio. and
write a monograph Of them. but ho does not
know to what extent the Fishes of Ono hsvs
been studied and described the Institution
will furnish him with oil the works 10 its pos-
session. on Fishes ; will farnsh him will . list
Of all the specimens Of OHIO Fishes which
they have on hand (and here permit me 30
seknowledge that was astoni'hed io End, to
the best Of my know edge, . tpocimsn Of
every species, it not Of every variety Of ONO
Fishes, properly labelled. and in a srss' stats
preservation 10 the institution ands If he
request, the Secretary will furuish hi~ with
any specimen Of fishes be may require. for
comparison. TO identify species should he
even rsqaes. that spt cimens from Western
New York Pennsy lvsnis. Virgins, K ntucky.
Eastern Indiana and n Mciigan os iorw Arded TO
him, they will at once be forwarded. not only
with dispatch, but With eheertu!ness, at the
expense Of the Institution. Is Mr.. X study
ing and collecting the Insects Of Quo? Upon
proper application. she Secretary ~iil donate
4, him oil the Smithsonian publications on
Entomology. Does he wish " contrib ite to tie
Institution an original p per ou 4 .tomolusy
1t will forward to him specimens from all
portions Of the world. ii III its possession. free
OF all charge, Or does be prefer TO make his
collection here. and then ~, 10 the Institution
Ito work them up = If 80, al apartment is
at once prepared for him. with Library,
Laboratory. microscope, aud "hs ever lnsiru-
nents ana chemicals may be necessary -
well ~ the best draughunan or artist that
money san procure. All this /" furnished Tree
oi charge, 70 my KIND Trend, 'hs Ensomolo-
gist, the lcythologIst, Herpetologist, the
00Nno.os":, Aaos".' an 'ne ueo"sa', .ne
fAeon'oiogist, the meteoroiogist' the Miner
AlOgl6k. &C, 1heY Also VIII au.nIV rkmuDe-
rsse MS isoors Pocuniaiiiy' PfoViGsd his paper
or monograph 10 deemo "orIhy oi puolics1ion
py tne institute.
mhino' some OF our Buckeye youth endea'
vof 70 resp AL une advantages offered oy TINS
institution ihs Rmoiuon to have ones
nAme attached 70 "con'riouuons 10 tne snisn-
sonian funa OF hnoWleoge' Is 'Worlhy OF
psrssversnce' until crowned with success.
Inc cohecuon OF eoiuoer ana cro'ahuo
would have caused iAe patron SAINT Of the
Emerald Isle to leap Tor very Joy. The COL
ieeuons Of Rama and buto Are very respee-
table. The American aIss are ve!y fully
represented, although not IN condition to oe
exhibited shey are packed away in drawers,
6y hundreds lhe Mexican Boundary Line
Expsoiuon' ana Ine racine haiiioad ExPe'
dihons, have ADDED largely 10 ibe PreVIou.
vast collection In the different departments OF
Natural history minerals ana iossils are 10
countless numbers from every portion Of
the globe, almost.
The manner IN which the Museum hoom
OF the Sm'thsonian Institute will Do arranged
VIII make equivalent to one room OF 600
-isst IN length' ey oo feet In width. A" soon
o. congress makes an appr' priatlon oil about
S1s.ooo' Tor that purpose. cares. and other
necessary nxtures Will os arranged in the
Museum and hlled specimens OF Ns'ural His
tory. executed IN Tue best style Of raAiiermy,
GO: -,
~ The library consists, OF about twenty thou
sand volumes. oi the be'! works eItsn', upon
the various departments ot human kno"ledse