REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 53 



interruptions c;iut>ed by tbo preparations for the exhibitions in London, 

 New Orleans, Louisville, and Cincinnati, which have really put back 

 the work of arranging the collections at least twelve months. 



It must be remembered that the "National Museum" is actually 

 an iustitution of very recent origin, although the idea of the National 

 Museum has been in process of development for very many years. As 

 recently as 1877 the appropriation made by Congress for its support 

 was only $10,000. The " National Museum " was not recognized by that 

 name in the Congressional appropriation bills until 187C, although the 

 term was used in the reports of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution as early as 18G8, * and although the national collections were 

 transferred to the custody of the Institution in 1858, in accordance with 

 the act of incorporation passed in 1846, by which it is i)rovided that, 

 "all objects of art and of foreign and curious research, and all objects 

 of natural history, plants, and geological and miueralogical specimens 

 belonging or hereafter to belong to the United States, which may be in 

 the city of Washington," shall be delivered to the Eegents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, and, together with new specimens obtained 

 by exchange, donation, or otherwise, shall be so arranged and classified 

 as best to facilitate their examination and study.! 



Nearly half a century has passed since the United States, by the pro- 

 visions of the will of James Smithson, first became proprietor of a sci- 

 entific collection, in the shape of the Smithson minerals and meteorites; 

 it is forty-three years since the National Institute was founded, with 

 great presMge and influence, for the avowed purpose of organizing a 

 National Museum of Natural History; thirty-eight since Congress threw 

 upon the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution the responsibility of 

 caring for the so-called " National Cabinet of Curiosities;" twenty-seven 

 since this responsibility was finally accepted and these collections were 

 transferred to the Smithsonian building ; thirty-five since the Institu- 

 tion began to make collections of its own; eight since Congress has 

 realjy recognized the "National Museum" as its ward, and four since 

 the Museum has had a shelter of its own, and an appropriation in any 

 way adequate to the necessities of its administrative work. The year 

 1880, then, marks an epoch in the history of the Museum, since at this 

 time Congress saw fit to recognize the claims of the Museum by increas- 

 ing the appropriations for its preservation and installation from $34,500 

 to $135,000. 



Their responsibility in the matter they had, however, recognized in 

 1879, by api)ropriating $250,000 for the construction of a fire-proof 

 building. The claims of the Museum to increased support had been 



* See Report Smithsonian Institution, 1867, p. 55. 



tAn act to establisli the " Smithsonian Institution" for the increase and diffusion 

 of useful knowledge among men. (Approved August 10,1846; Revised Statutes, 

 title Ixxiii, sections rjr>79-5594.) See also Revised Statutes, section 5586, and Statutes 

 Forty-fifth Cougress, third session, chap. 182, p. 394. 



