Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-01-07
SMIIHSON'S BfQUfST.
Origin of the Famous Smithsonian
Institution

| UNCLE SANS TREASURY HOLDS ITS
MONEY, WHICH CAN Pc USED ONLY
ON APPROPRIATION TY CoNGERss-
ITS PECULIAR RELATION TO THE
GOVERNMENT.
Although the name of the Smithso-
nian institution is common household
word in America and millions of per
sons have visited the great buildings in
Washington where are stored the con-
tributions of science which have been
gathered under its auspices, few under
stand the real relation of the institution
to the national government. Most per-
sons believe that is is a part of the gov
eminent.
The Smithsonian Institution, says
the Washington Times, occupies pc
culiar relation to this government. It
is part Of it, and yet it is not part.
Its moneys are in the United State
treasury and can be used only on ap-
preparation by congress, and yet this
money does not belong to the govern
ment. 1t is to the government only as
the money of ward is. to guardian.
James Smithson, who contributed
the bulk of the fund in the hands of
the institution, was an hnglishman,
the son of a peer of the realm. He
was man who could trace his ances-
try back to royal blood. He never Wis
tied in America and was never known
to have any Particular partiallity for
America until he wrote his will in 1892
and when they opened his will this
is what they read:
81 bequeathed the whole of my pro-
perty to the Uuited States of America
to found at Washington, under the
name Of Smithsonian Institution, an
establishment for the increase and diff
fusion OF knowledge among men,
This property amounted to about $500,
600, which was in that day prince
ly fortune. Six years after his death
the United States legation at London
was informed that there was about $500
600 in the possession of the adjutant
general of the British court of chancery
awaiting claimant,
Immediately there arose in America
ali 'Knds Of opposition to the accept
ance of the money. John c. Calhoun
and William G. Preston urged with
all the fire Of their eloq,ence that it
was beneath the dignity of thisgsyern-
ment to accept such gift. But John
Quinsey Adams and others prevailed,
and Richard Rush was sent to Eng
land to prosecute the claim of this gov
eminent.
he was successful, and on Sept. /,
1888, the money was delivered at the
mint in Philadelphia in the shape of
104, 900 gold sovereigns, which were
minted over S508,31S 1S46 in American
money.
This sum by careful management and
by additions from other charitably in
clined persons has now become about
81, 900, 600, which the government keeps
and pays interest upon for the MAIN
tenance of the institution.
For the first eight years the money
lay in the treasury while plans were
being formulated for the permanent es-
tabllshment described by Smithson in
his will. Thousands of letters were re-
ceived, and there were schemes enough
proposed to bankrupt several govern
ments. Congressman debated over this
fund repeatedly, and hundreds of pages
of the Congressional Globe were given
up to it.
The institution has been worked out
on such board lines as to be one of the
greatest forces in scientific research in
the world.
The board of regents is composed of
the vice-president of the United States,
the chief justice of the United States,
three United States senators, three rep
resentlveS and six citizens of the Uni
ted States at large.
The national museum, the weather
bureau, the geological park at Wash
ington, the fisheries bureau and the
astrophysical observatory have been
developed by the institution.
The objects of the institution, as de-
scribed by It's first secretary, Joseph
Henry, have been adhered to through
the years of its existence. They are to
increase knowledge by original investi-
cations and study either in science or
literature and to diffuse knowledge not
only through the United States, but
everywhere, especially by promoting
an interchange of thought among those