PROMOTION OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 19 



and Andrew Jackson, were both resident members. The honorary 

 list apparently never exceeded seven persons, including the three 

 living former Presidents, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James 

 Madison; the Marquis Lafayette and Baron Cuvier. 



Even at that early period Washington counted among the local 

 population a large number of professional and business men of 

 cultivation and attainments; while its status as the federal capital 

 brought into more or less permanent residence many men of learn- 

 ing, ability and distinction from all parts of the country. These 

 belonged mainly to the civilian and military branches of the 

 Government, and to both houses of the national legislature. It was 

 from these sources that the resident membership of the Institute was 

 chiefly obtained, though Congress was as strongly represented in the 

 roll of corresponding members, and changes in the status of Sena- 

 tors and ^Representatives from one class to the other were occasion- 

 ally made. 



There was then almost wholly lacking in Washington, however, that 

 representation by professional experts of the objects planned by the 

 societj 7 , such as only some years later began to be assembled, chiefly 

 in response to the needs of the Government, and which furnishes the 

 element requisite for stability in a technical association. In a letter 

 to Dr. William Darlington, dated December 16, 1819, Asbury 

 Dickins, secretary of the Institute, explained : " Hitherto, I am sorry 

 to say, our progress in all branches of our association has been slow 

 and inconsiderable. It is to be observed, however^ that the mere 

 organization of a scientific institution among gentlemen, who are, 

 for the most part, occupied in laborious official or professional duties, 

 and who are scattered over almost every part of this extensive city, 

 is a work requiring no little time and perseverance." 



As here intimated, the Institute was essentially a society of ama- 

 teurs in regard to the work it was designed to undertake, though this 

 is said with no disrespect to the membership, which, as a whole, en- 

 gaged with much zeal in promoting the interests they had elected to 

 support. In this, as in most similar associations, however, it fell 

 upon a few to keep interest alive and to perform the greater part 

 of the actual labor; yet back of these were others always ready to 

 respond when called upon, including a small number who gave ex- 

 ceptional distinction to the proceedings of the Institute. And, still 

 others, again, were on the roll, who took little or no part in the pro- 

 gramme ; and whose connection was generally of short duration. 



No complete list of the resident members in good standing at any 

 period has been found. The subscribers to the Metropolitan Society 

 in 1816 numbered 89, but it would appear that a large proportion of 

 these failed to continue relationship with the Institute. During the 

 first two years, or up to the close of 1818, the year in which the 



