The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-12-01
SM|THSON'S REQUEST
Origin of the Famous Smithso-
Man Institution.
THE CONTROL OF ITS FUNDS.
Uncle Sans Treasury Holds Its Mon
ey. Which Can Be Used Only on APP
preparation by Consress-lts Pecui-
lar Relation to the Government.

lar Relation to the Government.
Although the name of the Smithso-
Man Institution is common house
hold word In America and millions
Of persons have visited the great build
ings in Washington where are stored
the contributions of science which
have been gathered under its auspices.
few understand the real relation of the
institution to the national government.
Most PERSONS believe that 1t is part
OF the government
The Smithsonian institution. says the
Washington Times. occupies peculiar
relation to this government. 1t is
part of it. and yet 1t is mol Il part. Its
moneys are in the United States treas
ury aud can he used only on appro-
prlation by congress. and yet this
money does not belong to the govern
mcnt II Is 10 the government only
as the mniIry of ward is TO Il guard
ian
James Smithson who contributed
the bulk of the fund In the hands OF
the institution. WIS an EnGlishman.
the son OF peer OF the realm. He
WAS Il man who could trace his ances
try back to royal blood. He. never Wis
tied il America and WAS never known
to have any particular partiality for
America until he wrote his will in
1876. He died at Genoa in 1929. and
when they opened his will this is what
ley read:
=! bequeathed the whole OF my prop
erty To the United States of America
10 found 1T Washington. under the
name of the Smithsonian institution,
an establishment for the increase and
diffusion of knowledge among men.
This property amounted TO about
5000. 600 which was In that day
prineeIy fortune. Six years after his
death the United States legation ut
London WIS informed that there was
about Saeo.nO0 in the possession OF the
adlutnnt general OF the British court
of chancery awaiting claimant
Immediately there arose in America
I'll kinds of opposition TO the accept
nnce OF the money. John e. Calhoun
W
ali the fire of their eloquence that it
WIS beneath the dignity of this gov
.ruIncut 10 accept such Il gift. But
John Quincy ADAMS and others pre-
vailed and Richard Rush was sent 10
Eu..inud To prosecute the claim of this
government
He was successful. aud Oh Sept. l.
iS3S the money WIS delivered ut the
mint 10 Philadelphia III the shape of
iua ma gold oyeretgns. which we're
urt.d fntu SatS3Is.46 In American
money
This sun hx careful management
aud by additions from other charitabiy
inclined PERSONS has now become about
Sluao.ooo. which the government keeps
and pays interest upon for the main
tcEIucc OF the institution.
Fer the first eight years the money
lay IN the treasury while plans were
being formulated for the permanent
establishment described by Smithson
In ms VIII Thousands OF letters We're
received aud there We're schemes
enough proposed Ie bankrupt several
gevprnmentS congressman debated
over this fund repeatedly. and hun
dredS al pages OF the Congressional
Giohc We're given up to II
The institution has been worked out
the greatest forces III scientific re-
search III Inc world
he hoard ot regents is composed of
the Ice president oi the United States.
| the chlct Justice Of The United States.
three nited States senators. three
representatives, aud six citizens OF the
! United States at large
II" Nalionu1 museum. the weather
| bureau lite Geological park nj Wash
| instuu. the nshcries bureau and the
astrophySlcat observatory have been
| de,riuped hN the institution.
| Fhc nhlcets al the institution. as
/ deS,'il t'd by lis FIRST secretary. Joseph
| ileurN- have nreu adhered 10 through
| the Aclls al It's existence They are
Ia lnert.a>c knowledge by original III
! vesligattons aud study either III sci
encr of literature and To- dtiiuse kuowl
1 edge uel only through the United
I States hut every where. especially by
promoting m utter hange Of Thought
| autnug hose prominent in learning in
4 all nations \o restriction is made
IN faNat ~ att, ,##,- branch Of knewl-
/ triEc
fhe Ieadinl features Of the plan OF
| t'rotrSsef Henry we're. IN his own
/ Nord>
To assist men NJ science in making
eristual researches. To publish them In
a series Of volumes and 10 give n copy
~ them TO every frst class library in
J the world
Rocks. laboratory accommodations
and apparatus have been supplied ia
thousands Of investigators throughout
/ the United states