The national Republican., 1869-06-25
The Future Of washIpgtou-The City
rs an Intellectual Centre-Interest-
ing Address by Professor Henry Of
the Smithsonian Institute. La.

tuk huuEttt by FrotttsuE HehEy Nt
tho smithsonian Institute. la.
In the REPUBLICAN OF yesterday, we gave
q report Of the dinner Of the Alumni Of the |
Deaf Mute College, which was given We'd |
nesday afternoon, al the Kirkwood. and |
| mentioned that several interesting addresses |
were made by distinguished gentlemen. In |
response to the toast, "Thc Press, the edu- |
Gator Of the people, Professor Joseph Henry
delivered valuable and interesting address, |
which will, no doubt, be read with pleasure,
coming as II does from the distinguished
gentleman who delivered II. The following
Is the address In full;
Mr.. President and Gentlemen; am called
upon 10 respond 10 sentiment In regard to
the press. II Is understood, however, that
am TO speak Of the press as connected with
the Smithsonian Institution, for am In no
way related TO the periodical press Of this
country, though i acknowledge Its powers
and Its efficiency In moulding the opinions
of thousands OF our countrymen. The press
Of the institution, with which am proud TO
be connected, is one that speaks TO more
restricted class OF persons, thongh Its voice
Is scarcely less potent, and Its final results
no less important to the well being Of hu-
manlty.
The Smithsonian Institution, In accord
ance with the spirit Of the bequest Of the
founder, has published sixteen volumes Of
contributions to knowledge, not composed
OF essays nor discussions OF doubtful truths,
but filled with new facts and new principles
: which have been wrought out by the labors
Of tho scientific men Of this country, rud
dliluscd through every part Of this civilized
world. These volumes arc to be found In all
tho principal libraries OF every country where
, literature and science are cultivated, and
/ everywhere they render familiar the namc
of smithson, Of the city Of Washington, and
' OF the contributors to the advancement Of
I science in the United States. Besides these
1t has also published for more general dis
s tribution, especially In this country, seven
: volumes OF miscellaneous collections and
4 0fteen volumes OF annual reports. II Is,
however, to be regretted that the character
2 and operations Of the Institution arc not
more popularity known. Its mission, accord
: Ing to the Legitimate inference Of the terms
o Of the bequest, Is not educational In the ordi-
n nary signlncaton Of the term; nor Is II In
tended to diffusc useful knowledge among
+ the people Of the United States. Its object
+ is something higher than these. II Is In
d tended not TO disseminate more generally q
a knowledge of what is already known by the
principal OF tho schools and colleges, but by
4 observations, experiments and researches, TO
n discover or TO facilitate tho discovery Of new
truths, and 10 difuse knowledge Of these
10 through Its publications TO men Of every ma
u tion and every CLINE. It's volumes contain
ie contributions to almost every branch OF
science; and the historian, in giving an nc
ic count Of the progress Of any one branch
10 during the last twenty years, would lily per-
form his task II ho neglected to mention tho
namo Of the Smithsonian Institution.
1t Is not, however, alone by Its publica.
IN tion Of original truths or discoveries that II
ic has made itself extensively known; 1t has
vc also lndustriously collected and distributed
Id to other institutions at home and abroad
DO samples OF the flora, the fauna, the geology
n and mineralogy of both North, South aud
d, Central America, and while its volumes arc
In found In all libraries Its specimens arc to be
H. met with In all museums. The institution
d, sir, Is doing more for Washington than Is
;" dreamed Of by those who are most anxiou,
he for the permanent prosperity Of the city. II
is not only establishing for ii a high scientific
v. reputation, but rendering II a centre oi
le scientific influence by its efficient co-opera
IN tion with all the literary and scientific cstab
e, lishments Of the country. In order TO In
nj crease Its own power OF usefulness, and al
the same time 10 advance tho higher inter
r. csts Of Washington, II has incorporated Its
&C. library OF my thousand volumes with that
d. OF Congress, and by this union has formed &
ed collection Of books hereafter, trust, to b.
he denominatcd the National Library. tits Ger,
nd tainly the first, as regards size, In this
en- country, and no one equals IL In the rapldlty
or Of Its increase. 1t is truly a library Of pro
nd grcss, and Il annually receives through tn,
H. tions Of every learned society Of any repu
er tation at present In existence.
he 1t Is perhaps not generally known that IL
Id the law which authorized this transfer that
it Is distinctly expressed that the librar,
'te shall be open to all who desire TO consult tho
lis volumes every week day in the year, excep
one month for rearraDging the books an,
)r. cleaning the apartments. But the library o
ell Congress Is not the only institution In thi
j. city with which the Smithsonian co-opcrates
To- 1t has lately transferred to the Agriculture
raj Department herbarium OF 10000 plants
ng which is placed under the charge, In tha
Department, OF q scientific botanlst, through
whom all interested In this bran Of natura
as history may become familiar with the plants
~ Of the district, and indeed with tho fora o
ed the whole country.
he In these and other transfers OF the care o
lie. materials which Il has accumulated, 1t seek
he to increase Its power more efficiently to ad
~ vance science, and TO enrich by furthsr accp
De- mutations OF objects OF interest the politica
ms centre Of the nation. During the past yea
re, the space previously occupied by the librar
Ia, has been nearly filled with specimens illus
nd tratlYc of the cthnology of America. No
md yet Is this all. 1t Is In friendly cooperation
ere with all the public establishments Of thi
a city, which are neither few nor unimportani
Ar. Though no city In the Union has been 9
ed. much tho object of detraction, yet there
nd none which Is left with more regret by thos
-ho who have experienced the fascination OF II
red social organization.
he Washington, In derision, has been demon
ry. mated "thc city Of disappointed hopes an
90, magnificent distances" but 1t is now In
In fair way TO have its hopes realized by th
advance of the country, and Its vacan
spaces obliteratcd by the Increase of popuia
VA tion and the awakened enterprise of its cit
OF zens Nor Is there any city, which In pre-
ng portion to the whole number Of its lnhab
eGt OF establishments connected with science @
J. which contains so many persons intercstc
'ct, In intellectual pursuits.
Let me stop for q moment 10 briefly enl
The meratO these establishments. There Is III
In Office of tho Coast Survey, in which is
ch, corps OF learned mon engaged In reducin
DRY aud discussing problems connected with IN
cn- highest principles of topography, hydro
on ogy and geography. Next there Is III
Patent Onlcc, which numbers among II
In officers men who would do honor TO an
TIL scientific institution In this country. The
lay there Is the Office of tho Computers
per the Nautical Almanac, on the accurac
Ing OF the predictions of which hundreds {
ieir lives and untold wealth are daily venture(
ok, Next, the Office of the Engineers of II
Jaw Army, the operations Of which ertcnI
ing over every part Of the United STATE
In works OF national Improvement are heI
The planned and from this centre directed
'yc- Again, there is the Bureau of Navigation
the which has charge, as 1t were, of tile cduci
be tlon of the navy, and the adoption of oil IN
lJor proyemcnts In the instruments OF nautlci
ted use. Also, under the direction of the nav.
'cre We find an institution we'll worthy of ii
Ipt. name Of the "Natonal Observatory" Il
and only establishment of the kind In the Unite
!pt. States properly equipped, furnished with
lcyi corps Of wcll-tralned and accomplished ol
l.. servers. But this Is not all. Under Il
VIII Ordnance Department Of the army and nav,
AIRY a series OF experiments are almost constant
ler, in progress, involving large expenditure
Mr. and producing results of Importance 10 II
Mr.. wcll.bcing of the nation. Furthermore, "
OF have In this city medical museum, und
dis the direction Of the Surgeon General, col
and taining, perhaps, n more Interesting collie
the tlon of specimens to illustrate surgical ,
led. morbid anatomy than any other in exlstenc
In THIS museum a corps Of ardent investing