The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-03-31
SM|THSON'S REQUEST
Origin Of the Famous Smithso-
Man Institution.
THE CONTROL OF ITS FUNDS.
Uncle Sans Treasury Holds Its Mon
~, Which Can BE Used Only on AP-
preparation BY congrsss--its Pscul-
lar Relation TO the Government.


preparation by consress-lts Pseul-
lar Relation TO the Government.
Although the name Of the Smithso-
MAN institution Is a 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 it is part
Of the government
The Smithsonian institution. says the
Washington Times. occupies peculiar
relation to this government 1t Is q
part of II. and yet 1t is not part. Its
moneys are In the United States treas
ury and can be used only on appro-
priation by congress. and yet this
money does not belong TO the govern
ment- 1t is 10 the government only
as the money of ward is to guard
ian.
James Smithson who contributed
the bulk Of the fund in the hands or
the institution. was an Englishman.
the son OF a peer OF the realm. He
was man who could trace his ances-
try back 10 royal blood. He never Wis
tied in America and was never known
to have any particular Partially for
America until he wrote his will In
1896. He died az Genoa In 1923. and
when they opened his will this is what
they read:
Il bequeathed the whole Of my prop
erty 10 the United States OF America
to found at washington. under the
J name of the Smithsonian institution.
an establishment for the increase and
diffusion Of knowledge among men,.
This property amounted TO about
100000. which was in that day q
princely fortune. Six years after bis
death the United States legation al
London was informed that there was
about 100000 In the possession OF the
adiuiant general of the British couri
of chancery awaiting claimant
Immediately there arose IN America
all Kinds OF opposition 10 The accept
ancr OF the money. John ". Calhoun
and William G Preston urged viii
an the rre Of their eloquence that i
was beneath the dignity of this gov
eminent TO accept such gift. Bni
John Quincy Adams and others pre-
vailed. and Richard Rush was sent u
England 10 prosecute the claim Of fhi
government
He was successful. and on Sept
1928. the money was delivered az th
mint IN Philadelphia IN The shape o
lOi.9G0 gold sovereigns. which wer
minied into S50s.3ls.46 In Americal
money.
This sum by careful management
and by additions from other charitabl
inclined persons has now become abou
s1.OO0O0O. which the government keer
aud pays interest upon for the mail
tenance OF the institution.
For the first eight years the none
lay In the treasury while plans wer
being formulated for the permaner
establishment described by smithso
10 MS will. Thousands OF letters wer
received. ard there were scheme
enough proposed 10 bankrupt sereri
governments. congressman debate
over this fund repeatedly. aud nni
dreds OF pages Of the Congressioni
Globe were given up 20 ~
The institution has been worked o.
on such broad lines as 10 be Que
the greatest forces IN scientific 2
search 10 the world.
The board OF regents Is composed I
the vice president Of the United state
the chief Justice OF the United state
three United States senators. ihr'
representatives aud six citizens OF u
United States Of large.
The National museum. The weatb
bureau. The geological park at Was
ington. the fisheries bureau and q
astrophysicai observatory have be-
Developed By the institution.
The objects OF the institution.
described by Us tirst secretary. josef
Henry. have been adhered 70 throu:
the years Of It's existence. They a
10 Increase knowledge By original
vestigatiOns and study either ~ =
ence or literature and TO diGuse know
edge not only through the Unit
states. but everywhere. especially
promoting an interchange OF thong
among those prominent In learning
all nations. No restriction is ina
IN favor Of any one branch Of knos
edge
The leading features Of the plan
Professor Henry were. 10 bis o.
words:
TO assist men Of science IN maxi
original researches. 70 publish them
series OF volumes and 70 give 20
Of them 10 every first class library
The world"
Books. laboratory accommodate
and apparatus have been supplied
thousands 81 investigators through,
the United States.
unprineipied Wretch.
"You simply cannot trust anybod.
-.