The Washington times., 1904-01-24

the names then renowned to science.
and he himself contributed in those
early days honorably to the enlarge
ment of those "lurid speclOs in the vast
field of darkness" Of which he spoke,
toward the coming light.
His industry was the more creditable
to him In that he was at this time a
man of large means. with every tempta
tion to devote himself TO amusement,
and this industry will be seen 70 be
still greater when it Is remembered
that these published papers are but a
small portion OF his writings; for 300
manuscripts were forwarded TO the
United States with his effects. and, be-
sides these. thousands of detached notes
and memoranda
Unhappily. with the exception of one
small volume OF all these nothing re-
mains. the whole Of the originals having
been destroyed in the disastrous fire at
the institution in 1855. just 100 years
from the date of his birth.
His Later Life.
OF smithson's subsequent life we
know but little. His later years APP
pear to have been tried by bad health
and painful inhrmities- During these
years he seems 70 have resided chiefly
IN Paris. where he lived at 12 Rue
Monmartre. and where ne was In the
habit of entertaining his friends. One
gathers from his letters, from the uni
form consideration with which he speaks
Of others, from kind traits which he
showed and from the general tenor
of what is not here particularly cited,
the impression OF an innately gentle ma
ture. but also OF man who IS gradually
-,
youthful hope Of fame. and as health
and hope diminish together. is finally
living for the day rather than for any
future.
We see him next entering the con-
fines OF old age. approaching the task
with such enfeebled health. a solemn
one) of making his last will, and look
ing back upon life which his circum-
stances have made lonely. which has
been uncheered by domestic affection,
and which, though filled with honorable
activities, has not brought the fame 70
which he once aspired with the hope
that it would bring some compensa-
ton for the accident of birth.
Making of His VIII.
The most important act OF his life
was the execution of his viii.
THE WILL OF JAMES sNTTHsON.
II JAMES SMITHSON Son TO Hugh.
first Duke of Northumberland. & Eliza
beth, Heiress Of the Hungerfords of
Studley. & Niece TO Charles the proud
Duke of Somerset. now residing in
Bentinck Street Cavendish Square, do
this twenty-third day of October. one
thousand eight hundred and twenty
six, make this my last VIII and Tes-
lament:
II bequeath the whole of my property
Of every nature & kind soever to my
bankers. Messrs Drummons OF Char
/ ing Cross. in trust, TO be disposed OF
| in the following manner and l desire
of my said Executors 10 put my prop
erty under the management OF the
Court of Chancery.
In the case OF the death of my said
/ Nephew without leaving child or chill
dren, or the death Of the child or chill
/ dren he may have had under the age
| OF twenty-one years or intestate' then
bequeath the whole OF my property. sub
| ject to the Annuity of one hundred
\ pounds to John FitaH, & for the
| curity & payment Of which l mean
/ Stock TO remain I'm this Country. to the
/ United States Of America, TO found at
! Washington. under the name OF the
Smithsonian Institution, an Estabiish-
ment for the increase & dinusion OF
knowledge among men"
Remunerative Investment.
Probably no man ever made a more
| remunerative Investment IN the direc-
ton in which he would Ike best 70 see
a return than was brought out by these
words of Smithsoa, for we now all know
that his bequest, when accepted by the
United States Government formed the
initial step in the creation OF an IN
stitution whose position has been alto
gether exceptional, for it is likely 10 re-
main without successor as without pre-
cedent. in perpetuating. as il does the
| fame Of a private individual whose
wishes have been adopted and carried
into effect by great nation, which mas
consented 10 take the position OF
guardian TO a ward in the care OF MS
| property, and which has subsequently
1 made his private fortune the nucleus TO
which have been added appropriations
for objects OF national Importance, yet
appropriations which are still acminls-
tered in association with his name
The will was proved In the Preroga-
tive Court of Canterbury, the value OF
the effects being sworn to be under
Rl2O,O0O. The property disposed OF by
Il is believed to have been received
chiefly from Col Henry Louis Dickin-
sen, a son of his mother by former
; marriage. though he Is known to have
received legacy OF $4,000 from Dorothy
/, Percy, his haIf-sister on his father s