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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



cemetery near that city. His death occurred in the same year with 

 that of Davy, Wollaston, and Young, a fact mentioned by the 

 President of the Royal Society in announcing the loss of members. 

 About three years before his death, Sniithson made a holo- 

 graphic will containing provisions of immense importance to 



James Smithson. (From a painting by Johnes, 1816.) 



American science. After providing for an annuity to one faithful 

 old servant, and a benefaction to another, his will directed that 

 the whole of the income arising from his property of every kind 

 should be paid by his executors to his nephew, Henry James 

 Hungerford ; and should his nephew have children the whole of 

 his property was bequeathed to them or their heirs after the 

 death of their father. In case, however, the nephew should die 

 without issue, Smithson provided as follows : 



" I bequeath the whole of my property to the United States of 

 America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smith- 



