Evening star., 1866-10-18
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

we nave received copy OF tue Report OF
the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to
the Board of Regents, for January, 1866, being
part OF the annual volume OF the lnstitu ton
for the J ear 1865. The principal obiec: OF this
report is 70 present 10 the Board Of Regents, al
the beginning of their session, such an account
OF the events and operations of the previous
year as may serve as the basis of their deliber-
ations, as well as furnish the materials for a
connected history OF the Insttuuon Its also
designed 10 contain such brief exposiiions as
may tend 10 keep the publ informed as to the
true character of the establishment and of the
results it is intended TO produce
The Institution is not an association of
learned men similar 10 the scientific societies
OF Europe ana America, nor a university for
the education Of youth, nor an agency for the
diffusion OF usefui kno owledge among the peo-.
pie ef the United States, but primarily a
foundation Tor enlarglng the boundaries OF
science by slim mulatng and assisting the re-
searches of original inq quirers, wherever fsund
and for Rratuitousiy diffustng the results OF
such researches wherever they may conduce
10 he intellectual or material interests of men
The Secretary says :-"The most irnportant
event of 1854 was the destruction OF a part of
The oulldlng and ITS contents by the fire OF
January ~. This event must continue TO form
an epoch in the history of the Institution: and
tnough II cannot but BE- considered a most Sc
rlous disaster, II may yet lead to changes OF
importance in the correction of tsndencias
which might ultimately have absorbed the an
nHal income and neutrallZed the more liberia
policy which has thus far been pursued"
The report then repeats the facts connected
with the origin and results of the fire. anc
states that "ln consideration of the extraordi-
nary outlay required for the reconstruction of
the buIlSing, an effort has been made TO reduce
as much as possible the miscellaneous ex-
penses, ana engage in no enterprise that Is not
absolutely necessary TO the continuance OF the
general operations.
A reference TO the report OF the executive
committee will show that the following is the
present condition Of the fund
flrst The whole amount OF money original
iy derived from the bequest OF Smithson is
stlll IN the treasury OF the United States bear
ing interest Al six per cent. paid semi-annuaI
ly, and yielding S]O9lO annually.
second Seventy nye thousand dollars of an
al hve per cent interest, also pad semi -annu-
ally, yielding S3,s5O
Third. Fifty-three thousand five hundred
dollars OF the same fund are IN bonds Of the
State OF Virginia. twelve thousand in those of
tennessee. ana I've hundred IN those of Geor-
gia, from which nothing has been derived since
the commencement OF the war.
The Southern State stocks have increased
during the year in marketable value. though
no Interest has been derived from them.
L ne interest on the original fund for the mast
year has been paid by the Secretary of the
Treasury In coin, under the advice of the So
lcitor OF the Department, who, having inyes-
ugated the subject decided that in accordance
with the usages of the government the Ipstitn
ton was entitled thus TO be paid.
At the end Of last year there was q balance
In the hands OF the treasurer OF unexpended
interest of S294-4 Os. which, with the income
on the original bequest and premium on coin
mace disposable fund of SSi 956.37; Of TINS
sum COB nave been expended on the
building. and S32, 2,ll597 for the maintenance of
the establishment and for carrying on all the
operations of the Institution. leaving a balance
OF Sl3,IIe63 TO be further applied 10 the build
ing.
In view OF the great expenditure OF the gov
ern1nent on account OF the war, the Institution
dld not at first claim, az ii Justly might have
oone, the payment of the annual income Of the
bequest in specie; but after the great loss sus-
tanned by the fire the necessity could not be
avoided OF calling the attention Of the Secre-
tary OF the Treas ury 10 the subject" The ques-
uon has not yet been settled by the Depart-
ment
"a part of the original bequest had been Ief
IN tngisno as me principal OF an annuitypay-
able 10 the mother of SmIthson's nephew the
annuitant having died, power of attorney
signed by Abraham Lincoln, President Of the
' nlted States, was sent TO FladEate. Clarke AZ
Finch, solicitors, in England. authorizing them
10 collect the money and pay IL 10 the order OF
the Secretary OF the Smithsonian Institution
The proceeds from this, ded citing the expenses
OF collection, wers( Is, 262 Us. 3D., which were
temporarily deposited with Geo. Peabody &
Co, who not only transacted the bus mess with
out charge, but allowed four per cent. interest
on the money while IL remained in their hands
The total amount OF this resduary legacy re-
celNed by the Institution, including the inter-
est, f153 i9s. Id, was s26,2l063 in gold. which
y
yielded S5A, 165 3s in United States currency
This sum was invested IN Government bonds,
bearing interest at 3-le per cent, and depos-
lied tor safe-keeping with Gen. Spinner the
Treasurer OF the United States
"lt was at fret supposed that the interest on
this fund could be Immediately applied to the
uses OF tue institution, but upon a critical ex-
animation OF the enactments OF Congress in re-
gard TO the bequest, il was found by the So
lcitor of the Treasury that the act OF Congress
or ls46 appropriated only that portion OF the
hp and
made no provision for the disposition of the
reslduary legacy. The Secretary of the lnsti-
tuition was therefore called upon by Mr. Fes-
senoen. Secretary OF the Treasury to deposit
this fund 10 his order in the Treasury of the
United States until Congress should authorlze
the appropriation OF II TO the maintenance or
use OF the Institution.
"The cost of the restoration Of the building in
hre-proof materials without changing the ex-
ternal appearance has. as formerly stated, been
lar greater ttan was anticipated. Whether the
portion OF the work yet 10 be executed will
much exceed in cost that which has already
completed, will depend upon the price Of ma
terials and OF labor. The Institution may in
time be able TO finish this work without en-
croaching on its present capital, prov .ded the
Secretary OF the Treasury shall recognize the
lnadequacy OF the payments Of interest which
for three years We're made in the deprecated
currency OF the time. If this allowance be not
made, and no assistance be received from Con-
gress. then, in order TO secure the building and
It's contents from injury by the weather. the
Institution will be obliged 10 sacrifice por-
ton OF Its extra fund, and 10 the extent of this
forever diminish its power to increase and
difuse knowledge among men, . a.. VIZ
While opposed 10 ssking appropriations from
Congress tor the maintenance Of the Institute.
the Secretary thinks the Government having
voluntarily accepted the trust, is bound in good
iaIih 10 carry out the intentions OF the ties tatcr
and TO make up for any encroachments upon
the funds which may have res ulted from i'm
provident or defective legislation. The cost
and maintenance of the building not necessary
10 a realization of the intentions of the founder
have been constant source or extraneous ex-
pense. and absorbed large amount OF money
which ought 10 have been addeo TO the active
capital. and the question may now be asked
with propriety whether an appropriation
should not be made to restore il of fire. proof
materials, and devote all except one wing
necessary TO the operations of the Institute.)
10 the purposes OF the Government-the ac-
commodation Of the Army Medical Museum
or the uses OF the Agricultural Department.
The report contains an able review of the
operations for the year. and is signed by Pro-
fessor Henry, the Secretary of the Institute.
THE BREAK-BoNE FEVER AT bIoBILR.-The
Mebile (Alabama) Register says the break
bone fever, aodisease that is Indigenous to the
southern CLINE is undoubtedly epidemic in
that city at this time. 1t caused from mala-
% Influences Tha