Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-02-09
The Smithsonian Institute.

AS this building has been lately nearly
destroyed by fire, and as the public eye is,
now directed to it, a sketch of its origin and
scientific value viii not be inappropriate
James Smithson, an Englishman, dying
at Genoa, Italy, on the 9th of June lS29,1
was the founder of the world-renowned in
stitution which has. long since borne his
name, and which was lately destroyed by
fire. BY the terms ofhis WILL he bequeathedr
the whole of a large estate, inherited from
his father, the first Duke of Northumber-r
land, to the United States of America, to
found at Washington, under the name of,
the Smithsonian Institution, an establish
ment for the increase and diffusion of knowl-
| edge among men. aa b.-a
| The Government of the United States
having been notified of its claim, deputed
the late Hon. Richard Rush as commissioner.
to assert its interest. After long delay Of
technical chancery suit the proceeds of
Mr.. Smithson's legacy were deposited, to
the amount of five hundred and fifteen thou
sand one hundred and sixty nine dollars, in
the mint at Philadelphia, on the first of,
September, 1888. There now arose the,
somewhat embarrassing question, in what
form and by means of what organization
the purposes of the trust thus accepted by
the United States could be best fulfilled. ..--v
Many and diversified were the schemes SUBJ
mitted to Congress. 1t was finally recog-
niZed, however, that concessions must be,
made to all opinions, and it was hence de-.
clared that the principal should be lent in.
perpetuity to the treasury of the United
States at an interest of six per cent, pro-
viding for suitable building (to be paid
for out Of the interest accruing since 1889
with rooms or halls adapted to the ''recep-
ton and arrangement, upon liberal scale,
of objects of natural history, including a ge-,
illogical and neurological cabinet, chem
ical labratory, library, gallery Of art, and
necessary lecture rooms" ..,r
The Board Of Regents was provided for.
and was authorized to make such disposal
of any portion of the annually accruing in
terest not required for the enumerated pur-
poses cas- they shall deem best suited for
the promotion Of the purpose of the testa-
tor" The corporation itself, or the Estab-
lishment, as it was termed, in conformity
with the language of the bequest, was to
consist Of the President and Vice President
Of the United States, the Secretaries Of
State, of Treasury, Of War, and of the Navy,
the Postmaster General, the Attorney Gen.
eral, the Chief Justice of the United States,
the Commissioner Of the Patent Office and
the Mayor oft the city of Washington, during
their respective terms of office, with such
other persons as they may elect honorary
members. The Board of Regents, to which
was confded the current business Of the
institution, was to be composed of the Vice
President and the Chief Justice Of the Uni
ted States, the Mayor of Washington city, ].
three members Of the Senate, and three of
the House Of Representatives, together with
six persons other than members of Con-
gress, two of whom shall be residents of
Washington, but Of the other four no two
shall be from the same state. So much for
the organization.
The building was designed on the grand
est scale. Commenced in 1849, it's entire
completion was protracted through several
years, so that, though the building, for
which the expensive Lombardo- Venetian
style was adopted, cost some 1926, 900, an.
additional $4,000 was added to the per-
manent principal by The accumulation Of
interest In the meantime the institution
had been thoroughly organized for action
as early as the year 1847, oy the election
of Secretary and the adoption ofa 'pro-
gramme of organization" or general scheme
of operations. Professor Joseph Henry,
then of Princeton College, NewsJersey, was
chosen Secretary, with capable assistants.
Among the original regents of the institu-
ton were the late Chief Justice Taney, the
late James Alfred Pearce of Maryland, Pro-
fessor A. Dallas Bache, the Principal Of the
Philadelphia High School, and the late Gen
eral j. G. Tolten.
Researches and Investigations were at
once commenced and conducted in ethnolo-
gy, comparative philosophy, astronomy,
meteorology, terrestrial magnetism, natural
history, archaeology, botany, mineralogy,
climatology and geology. Their records
were almost invaluable to the man of
science. The library was rich in complete
sets of the translations and annals of scien
tific bodies, obtained as many Of them can
now only be obtained through voluntary
offerings. The museum was fine and COM
plete, especially in the department of Amer
lean Zoology. The Gallery ofart represent
ed the wealth and beauty gathered together
iron every country Of the old world