18 COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE 



arts and manufactures, and closing with the general clause "any 

 ether information which may be deemed of general utility." 



In the extensive and diversified task which the Institute had thus 

 set for itself, one may almost feel certain of the responsibility of 

 Thomas Law for most of the ideas that were incorporated in this 

 section of the constitution, as they follow the thought so constantly 

 expressed in his innumerable and valuable communications, mainly 

 devoted to schemes for benefiting mankind. The first expressed 

 objects of the Institute as a whole were, in fact, such as required 

 the resources of the Nation or of the several States for their con- 

 summation, and anticipated the work which has since and only too 

 slowly forced its attention on legislators. These objects received 

 recognition from Congress by an act of incorporation, and, in addi- 

 tion, to the extent of granting the use of land for a botanic garden 

 and of a room for the collections, but no funds were ever appro- 

 priated for helping out any of the praiseworthy measures proposed 

 by the Institute. 



The constitutional ordinance of 1820, without abrogating any of 

 the original objects, divided the Institute into five classes, the 

 mathematical, physical, and moral and political sciences, general 

 literature and the fine arts. The principal idea in this action, with 

 the requirement that every member should affiliate himself with one 

 or other of the classes, was to give each member something definite 

 to do, and thereby increase his interest in the society and induce 

 his more frequent attendance at meetings. The organization thus 

 effected was also more indicative of the purposes of a learned society, 

 and might also be expected to attract a larger membership, con- 

 sidering the character of material to be drawn upon in Washington 

 at that time, men more or less liberally educated, but few who would 

 give their time to the promotion of economic or utilitarian subjects. 

 Even so, while the attendance proved greater at times, and the 

 number of communications increased, the society did not prosper 

 as was expected, and its prolongation was maintained with diffi- 

 culty. 



MEMBERSHIP. 



Under the constitution of 1816 only two classes of members, resi- 

 dent and honorary, were recognized, but by the constitutional ordi- 

 nance of 1820 corresponding membership was added. In the former 

 it was also provided that " the President of the United States for 

 the time being shall, with his permission, be considered the patron 

 of the Columbian Institute." James Monroe, who was then the 

 chief executive, appears, however, to have been the only one who 

 was tendered and accepted this position. His successors in that office 

 during the remaining period of the Institute, John Quincy Adams 



