8 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1909. 



and curious research and all objects of natural history, plants, and 

 geological and mineralogical specimens belonging to the United 

 States," thus stamping the Museum at the very outset as one of the 

 widest range and at the same time as the Museum of the United 

 States. It was also fully appreciated that additions would be 

 necessary to the collections then in existence, and provision was made 

 for their increase by the exchange of duplicate specimens, by dona- 

 tions, and by other means. 



If the wisdom of Congress in so fully providing for a museum in 

 the Smithsonian law^ challenges attention, the interi^retation put upon 

 this law by the Board of Regents within less than six months from 

 the passage of the act can not but command admiration. In the 

 early part of September, 1846, the Regents took steps toward formu- 

 lating a f)lan of operations. The report of the committee appointed 

 for this i^urpose, submitted in December and January following, 

 shows a thorough consideration of the subject in both the spirit and 

 letter of the law. It would seem not out of place to cite here the very 

 first pronouncement of the Board with reference to the character of 

 the Museum : 



" In obedience to the requirements of the charter," which leaves 

 little discretion in regard to the extent of accommodations to be pro- 

 vided, your committee reconnnend that there be included in the build- 

 ing a museum of liberal size, fitted up to receive the collections des- 

 tined for the Institution. * * * 



" As important as the cabinets of natural history by the charter re- 

 quired to be included in the Museum your committee regard its eth- 

 nological portion, including all collections that may supply items in 

 the physical history of our species, and illustrate the manners, cus- 

 toms, religions, and jDrogressive advance of the various nations of the 

 world; as, for example, collections of skulls, skeletons, portraits, 

 dresses, implements, weapons, idols, antiquities, of the various races 

 of man. * * * jj^ ^j^jg connexion, your committee recommend the 

 passage of resolutions asking the cooperation of certain pulolic func- 

 tionaries, and of the public generally, in furtherance of the above 

 objects. 



" Your committee are further of opinion that in the Museum, if 

 the funds of the Institution permit, might judiciously be included 

 various series of models illustrating the progress of some of the most 

 useful inventions; such, for example, as the steam engine from its 

 earliest and rudest form to its present most improved state ; but this 

 they propose only so far as it may not encroach on ground already 

 covered by the numerous models in the Patent Office. 



" Since the Institution was not chartered in a legal sense bnt established l»y 

 Congress, the use of the word "charter " in this connection was not correct. 



