40 COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE 



Establishment, location and extent of the garden. — One of the 

 principal objects proposed in the organization of the Institute, the 

 establishment of its botanic garden is probably to be considered as its 

 most important achievement. The Metropolitan Society, according 

 to its plan of June 15, 1816, had " in contemplation to apply to Con- 

 gress for the appropriation of about 200 acres of ground, called ' the 

 Mall,' which was designed in the original plan of the city for a pub- 

 lic garden. In this place it is proposed to cultivate the plants and 

 seeds which may be presented to them ; and as they multiply, to dis- 

 tribute them throughout this extensive continent." At a later date 

 it was explained that, with sufficient aid, the botanic or national 

 garden may be used to cultivate all kinds of indigenous trees, shrubs, 

 roots, grasses, etc., to be distributed to every part of the United 

 States. Beautiful shady cool walks may be formed, yielding a 

 pleasant and healthy means of recreation, and the science of botany 

 may be improved and encouraged. 



By the act of incorporation, approved April 20, 1818, the Insti- 

 tute was authorized to procure, by purchase or otherwise, a tract or 

 parcel of land for a botanic garden not exceeding 5 acres. Begin- 

 ning at a meeting on October 5, in that year, the subject of obtaining 

 a lot for a building as well as a garden was given frequent considera- 

 tion. In the draft of a memorial to Congress, agreed to on Decem- 

 ber 28, though possibly not used, mention is made of a reservation of 

 20 acres situated at or about the junction of the Capitol Park or 

 Mall and the extension of the President's Square, in which the 5 

 acres for the Institute might be advantageously located. 



As a result of correspondence between the president of the Insti- 

 tute and the Committee of Congress on the District of Columbia, the 

 following bill was passed by Congress and received the approval of 

 the President on May 8, 1820 : 



Statute I. Chap. LXXXI. — An Act for the benefit of the Columbian Institute, 

 established for the promotion of Arts and Sciences in the city of Washington. 



Be it enacted, &c, That there be granted, during the pleasure of Congress, 

 to the Columbian Institute for the promotion of Arts and Sciences, the use and 

 improvement of a tract of public land in the city of Washington, not exceeding 

 five acres, to be located under the direction of the President of the United 

 States, for the purpose of enabling the said Columbian Institute to effect the 

 object of their incorporation : Provided, That whenever the said Institute shall 

 be dissolved, or cease to exist, or to employ the said tract of land for the pur- 

 poses aforesaid, all right, title, and interest, hereby granted to the same, shall 

 revert to, and vest in, the United States, as completely as if such grant had 

 never been made. (Sixteenth Congress, first session. From Private Statutes 

 at Large, U. S. A., 1789-1845, vol. 6.) 



The conditions of this grant were accepted by the Institute on 

 May 23, and on the same date the committee to select the site recom- 

 mended as, in their opinion, the most eligible, as it was the most 



