New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-01
THE SMITHS OMAN INSTITUTION.

Correspondence OF The n Y. Tribune
WASHINCros, May %, 1873.
II the Smithsonian Institution is mplishiug any
thing good the knowledge thereof is confined entirely
10 the scientific. The visitor to the building looks in
vain for any evidence Of results in what he sees
around Inn. The edifce itself is certainly worth
viii presenting externally picturesque variety as
poet could desire. Greenough, in his Aesthetics OF
Washington, remarks that TIE models from which
it is copied are both rich and rare and connolsseurs
may well wonder how the d. il got Here.
That tie interior is too much cut up by angles, coIs-
ters and for useful purposes Is admitted by ALL
How Renwick came to design chapel for picture
gallery surpasses comprehension; but that accom-
pished Dung architect has done eccentric things
The east wing where he placed lecture room, has IN
part been converted into house for the Secretary,
while the central part of the second story III the main
building furnishes much more commodl0us amphl
theater for lectures, conventions &c. west OF TINS
on the same story is the picture gallery, when mas
been for some time filled with Staueys collection OF
Indian portraits deposited hers by the artist IN the
rope, IL is said, OF inducing the Government 10 Guy
them.
The chapel which Renwick designed for picture
gallery lie converted into library, and the adjacent
cor Meeting range, behind the closter, into reading
room Altogether, the changes made seem to be
judiCiOus.
The library has been fitted up in alcOves, and con-
tains some 40 600 volumes, chiefly mace up OF copy
rights Ito OF each OF which the Institution Is emit
tedl and the researches of Scientific Societies through
out the world obtained it is said, mainly IN exchange
for the publications OF the Institution.
This Is all the visitor of the results OF the ten
wears operations of the Smithsonian unless he thinks
TO AK the civil JsntOr to take him into the Regent
room in the south tower or battlement Here beside
the personal fleets of Smthson, he will he shown the
publications contributions to knowledge seven
or hight quato volumes, printed on the best psper
and IN the highest style of illustration. There are
works on meerology, marneag1, Indian mounds, In
dian Languages and other departments OF knoWledge
which are doubtless the results OF great sDor ana re-
search and perhaps come within the catsgory Oh those
works which being only ineligible TO scientific eyes,
Command no sae, and must therefore be published Dy
tie Institution. if published at all.
The smiabe and learned Secretary tProfessor
Heuryl ponts to these with pride, and tells OF the
reputation the Institution has thereby acquired with
eli those Institutions ASSOC iaons which really Con-
tribute t. the increase and diffusion of knowledge
| ard of the valuable aid which mas been rendered 10
| various exploring parties, by furnishing them with
instruments ard books, in return for which II mas
received large collections Illustrative of American or
nithol, gy reptiles fishes, &c, all which have been
well oscussed by the naturalist OF the lnstitutio
| DR.. Baird 10 the annual reports to Congress,
But Why not place these collections, or some OF them
where they an be seen by the public While large
proportion might with propriety remain 10 drswsts III
the private of the eastern colster Tor facites
of examination and description, there ara assurecIy
many which could be placed in the now vacant cases
Of the great exhibition room, and thus gratlfy the
|
| some degree to populsrize the Institution. For,
! although the Institution is on private f1unda-
| ion the fast that the Government IA the Trustee
| makes il, to some extent, public establishment;
and il is natural and proper that the nOn-resding
non-scientifc portion of the community should de-
sire TO be rewarded with something more than the
sight of pictures belonging to private parties, and APP
| paratus presented by Prof. Hare, as compensation
| for the tramp over the hail.
II is said that the great room might, IN course OF a
few years be entirely filled with the collections OF The
| Institution alore.
TIE act of Congress authorizes them TO receive tns
| Government collections, in the Patent Once,
but this they reasonably object unless the Govern
| mtnt will pay the expense of taking care OF inst
| museum ss heretofore. There other obvious
reasons why the Government collection should not
psss under the name Of SnithsOH. But there Is no
reason why the Institution should not carry out the act
IN restion 10 its own collections. II the expense Is
alleged as reason this could be obvsted by issuing
smaller number OF pages OF printed matter per
| annum.
| There are well informed Swans who think the I'D
vancemen; OF knowledge would not be greatly I'M
p.ded If the publications were fewer and at greater
| intervals.
| Certainly il was never contemplated by Congress
that a. the end of ten years the teens OF the at
should nave heen entirely nullied BY providing all
tie rooms required thereby, but keeping them entirely
empty.
sm happy to say th., 40 far have heard no inti-
| nation that the funds q! the Institution had been
| ranged otherwise than with proper economy Inc
| income pa. been increased and there have been no
| deitcstons or jobs.
The Secretary il believed To be al upright, con-
sct ptious man who does Dot sufficiently appreciate
| the iuporaece OF consulting the public taste ana
| wishes IN matters Of this kind
How the publication department. would be manAg -
by aty future secretary Dies u0s seem ~ eo'sF 'a'