, 1870-04-23

heen read to the academy IN 1ta business aes-.
zion, and would be presented to Congress
but that this report wa TOO long " DO 5ead ut
a. extract or two. which might be considered
of more interest to tho public generally.
In March, 1868, while tho natipn WEE en- !
oaRed IN m intestine war more stupendous |
thtn sny hitherto recordedin history. the Con-
e1css oi the United States stayed Tor briei
pesiod its deliberations concerning tho mo-
Ineutous Affairs Of 6tata to estshainh \ nation
= nstitution for The Advancement Of science,
"a which it could appeal for counsel and direc-
ton In Al cases where questions Of scientihe
character connected with the administration OF
posed by Hon. Henry Wilson, Of afassachu-
setts, The National academy Of Sciences was
inrn1unrsted, This Was voluntary move
ment on his part-Although It is true, ss
be himself states, his attention was
directed 2 the i@Pe5tanee s,Pos1 ,o OF xoan' tho
tstion Is cla,ined By both hemiaphesas. Mr.
Wilson, however, must alone be considered it's
author. az felt,r said he in his eloquent sd
d1ess before tbs, acAdomy, - confident that
could introduce and car7y through Congress-
cause Of science aud reflect honor upon our
country. I assumed tho responsibility. and
with such aid md suggestions as could OBJ
tain, prepared, introduced, and carried through
the act of incorporation without division in
either House. H. The he, osganlassion an !, m,y ,;. not
and difficulty; the number Of members
vas necessarily limited, and the most eminent
men Of science were 10 be recognized. II in
Justice has been done, il mistakes have bean
made, time Will, l trust, correct the injustice
Death il in the world, and the List OF honored
natncs viii not long remAin uubrokan."
dwell On this point because the atadeuy has
been censured for excluaiseness in e]ecting Us
members only those who have actually in
creased the etore OF scientific knowledge By
original research; but without the feature It
would not be national academy in the strict
application Of this term to An association IN
tended to be connected with government
The question might, with propriety, havo
been raised in the consideration OF the prppo-
institution was well adapted to the spirit Of
our people. In answer it may b. said that the
academy IL intended to promote special inses-
legations. Exclusiveucsa, therefore, is not to
be condemned in it more than III an associ2-
tion Of nhyticians or lawyers for the promo
deed, were it otherwise, Congress, and not the
academy, would be responsible for the lu,itA-
ton Of its numbers. The original list con-
eisted OF fifty members, intended to be
| chosen from among the most celebrated
| aud it is not improbable that Mr. Wilson
sought counsel Of others in the formation Of
this List, fos hia reputation aa statesman. and
the extent OF his lAbcrs in the legislation Of
| both his own State and that Of the General
| Government, preclude the probability Of his
having given that minute attention to the his
tory Of science in this country which euch
selection would require. But With whom he
| conferred am unable to stata, and NAV truly
say that tho members Of the academy, IS i
whole, ehare with me this ignorance. They
/ werc unaware that such proposition a. tho
l $ok fS1S7s s7F
plated They, however, received the announce
1 ment of the honor conferred and the trust
| confded with tho honest intention Of faith
fully 1ischarging the duties that might devolyo
I upon them.
From what has been ssid, it must be evident
that the National Academy Was not volunts-
y association. eclf-organized, and asking Of
Congress legal Incorporation, but that it wAa
creation OF the government itself not an in
etitution Of limited duration or ordinary ch1r-
son, "ehould bear upon ita rolls the names Of
the saTaua Of coming generations, that should
advance high its standard, that should be az
infelble as justice, and as uncomproniaine
as truth, from which psetensiou might shrink
abaahed, s9d to which merit might everywhere
turn, confident OF recognition
The National Academy differs from the
other societies Of the country, in fact that the
litter are composed Ut working members anG
of men Of social position interested in the ad
vance Of science, who contribute to it not b,
their scientific 1abora, but BY their eubscrip
enable tho society to defraF the ordinary e1
penses OF its business meetings and the pub
lication OF it's transactions; while tho Academy
as VIC have stated. is composed exclusively o
those who have gained, as the result Of thei
scientific labo5s, = worldwide reputation, ans
with whom the prospect OF an association mus
be stimulus to exe1tion ard IN object O
laudable ambition to all who arc disposed t.
devote their lives to the pursuit Of silence,
Again, from The high moral and intollectua
most suitable tribunal in tho country 10 wbic!
to refer FOR examination ali questions Of
Rcicnt6c nature III which tho public may b.
specially Interested, II well Ri proposition
putportinE to afford additions to knowIelg
and claiming aid from the Sruthson and othe
funds.
: But it Is as the adviser and counsellor OF th
government that the academy differs essen
tally from all other societies in the cpun
J dy: Its list Of members WAS made u
with special reference TO- this, point
been educated, aud are practiscd in the pro
cesseh Of original investigation. aud II il
therefore, not invidious to say that th
J academy Ii bcttes. prepared than any othe
!. establishment in the country to render tia
, service to tho government for which it Was il
| part, At least. created. or the importance 0
such service to the nation can apoak frou
personal experience. can refer to tho report
. ! OF commission appointed during the war Il
+ examine the various {,rojecte intended to assa
: tho government in its momcntoua struggle
: | and Which it is not too nucli to saE that i
9 saved millions Of dollars TO the Sationa
5 Treasury. This service, which demanded erces
: sive Labor and involved great responsibility
+; was gratuitous]y rendered By men who's
names were subsequently enrolled on tie lis
l Of members Of this academy. Happily, til
l 1T "a SaxrYn v>t+xnhar at tafa
n the character Of those to which have refer
t red no longer exists, though there are alwsy
q questions outside Of the requirements Of th
= military aud naval professions which can b
!, solved only bg e1perts, or those who hay
q tain a particular study, or who have ha
4 that special trimming which will cnabl
a them to otta1n the true solution c
q the problems. It is surprising to observ
. hor few there are, even among thos
e who have received \ scientific education
i competent to make original Investigations
i which new Processes arc to DO invented m
a new facts interpreted. DiscoEerers. like poot
+ arc bo1n--uot nade. In most Of the way
+ mentioned, the academy has rendered. aud
$ rendering, important service. The honor :
le younger and more active lAborefs in the liz
II Of physical research Several memoirs hat
> already been published or accepted for publ
8 cation l,y the Smithsonian Institution. und'
y authority Of the academy. 1t has also bee
= OF ereat benefit to the government BY the ~
J. luton Ct the many aues,;ors which have bee
In referred to il. is may be eeeh by the numb
= Of reports submitted to 10 and published |
r Congress. It Is truo the expectation Of tt
70 members Of the organization have not be!
q fully realized, censTcss having filled to nal
ar appropriations for defrayiuG the expenses
ie the sessions Of the academy also fof ;aepu
t. ication Of its Transactions and proceeding
o Bu. the disappointment in this reepect ehou
Of not be cause OF diminished efforts on II
g. part Of the members. Time aud e1perie1
y LIB the condition OF institutions as well as
"a individuals. Honest perseverance, in
Of good cause must ulsima.ely,, be crow
te ed With success. Let the acaden
10 faithfully do its duty to itself,
il the cause Of science, and 10 the country, a,
D. though it may not receive support feom Il
e government It WI merit not only ite approl
# lion, but, IN due time, TIM. also Of an intel
gent public Indeed, in one aspect Of the ca
it were better the academy should continue
" be independent Of al! appropriations fro
o. Congress, pince it can then discharge its du
~ with greater freedom ard pronounce it's jud
d. ments uninauenced BY fear Of tho loss Of
u su1sidy. It neither couports Eith the dgu
c. OF the academy nor with the self-respect Of
m Individual members to SOLICIT the shpe
N which We think OUGHT TO b. voluntarily II
n dered
70 In addition to the duties alresly nam.
y. q. there ia one etler that hzs deyolved upon
o. academy since ita last meeting. which, on
s9} count Of It's grave responsibility End sole'
a import, deserves specil attention. allu
a to the guardianship Of the beqness OF orr !.
e lamented President, Professor Bache, who
e bequeathed his estate, IN trust, for sc1ent
Ie Investigations and the publication Of their
y snlts. It may to proper to remark, in t
~ connection, that surprise has been e1pres.
ag thzt = man OF Professor BAche'B
g.cty should leaTe his p1ope
ut fof i purpose go uncertain; but We
aa | know that ha WIS wise - weu ~ Z &C