NATIONAL MU8EUM BUILDINGS. 183 



foundation of the Smithsonian Institution, this matter was constant!}^ 

 before Congress, the subject of numerous propositions and of extended 

 debates. By the will of Smithson the city of Washington was to be 

 the home of the establishment, but the character and extent of its 

 buildings, as well as their site, depended upon the policy which 

 Congress might adopt for carrying out the wishes of the benefactor, so 

 tersel}' yet wisely expressed. 



The bill which was finally passed and received the approval of the 

 President on August 10, 1816, gave to the Smithsonian Institution the 

 custody of the national collections, and provided for a site and building 

 in the following terms: 



AN ACT To establish the "Smithsonian Institution," for the increase and diffusion of knowledge 



among men. 



Sec. 4. And he it further enacted, That, after the board of regents shall have met and 

 become organized, it shall be their duty forthwith to proceed to select a suitable site 

 for such building as may be necessary for the institution, which ground may be taken 

 and appropriated out of that part of the public ground in the city of Washington 

 lying l)etween the patent office and Seventh Street: Provided, The President of the 

 United States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of 

 War, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Commissioner of the Patent Office, shall 

 consent to the same; but, if the persons last named shall not'consent, then such loca- 

 tion may be made upon any other of the public grounds within the city of Washing- 

 ton, belonging to the United States, which said regents may select, by and with the 

 consent of the persons herein named; and the said ground, so selected, shall be set 

 out by proper metes and bounds, and a description of the same shall be made, and 

 recorded in a book to be provided for that purpose, and signed by the said regents, 

 or so many of them as may be convened at the time of their said organization; and 

 such record, or a copy thereof, certified by the chancellor and secretary of the board 

 of regents, shall be received in evidence, in all courts, of the extent and boundaries 

 of the lands appropriated to the said institution; and, upon the making of such rec- 

 ord, such site and lands shall be deemed and taken to be appropriated, by force of 

 this act, to the said institution. 



Sec. 5. And be it further enacted. That, so soon as the board of regents shall have 

 selected the said site, they shall cause to be erected a suitable building, of plain and 

 durable materials and structure, without unnecessary ornament, and of sufficient 

 size, and with suitable rooms or halls, for the reception and arrangement, upon a 

 liberal scale, of objects of natural history, including a geological and mineralogical 

 cabinet; also a chemical laboratory, a library, a gallery of art, and the necessary 

 lecture rooms; and the said board shall have authority, by themselves, or by a com- 

 mittee of three of their mem1)ers, to contract for the completion of such building, 

 ui)on such plan as may be directed by the board of regents, and shall take sufficient 

 security for the buil.ling and finishing the same according to the said plan, and in 

 the time stipulated in such contract; and may so locate said l)uilding, if they shall 

 deem it proper, as in appearance to form a wing to the patent office building, and 

 may so connect the same with the present hall of said patent office building, 

 containing the national cabinet of curiosities, as to constitute the said hall, in whole 

 or in part, the deposit for the caliinet of said institution, if they deem it expedient 

 to do so: provided, said building shall be located upon said patent office lot, in the 

 manner aforesaid: Provided, however, That the whole expense of the building and 



enclosures aforesaid shall not exceed the amount of , which sum is hereby 



appropriated, payable out of money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, 



