120 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



Extract, from an Address by the Secretary, on the Smithsonian Institution. 



I propose answering in this lecture the following questions : 



1. Who was James Smithson? and what was his character and 

 pursuits ? 



2. What was his bequest "? and what were its objects '? 



3. Wliat plan has been adopted tor carrying out the intention of the 

 testator? and what fruit has this plan produced? 



(1.) Smithson claimed to be of noble descent; and in his will declares 

 himself the son of Hugh, first Duke of Northumberland, and of Eliza- 

 beth, niece of Charles the Proud, Duke of Somerset. He was educated 

 at Oxford, and paid particular attention to the stud}^ of the physical 

 sciences ; was reputed to be the best chemist in the university, and was 

 one of the first to adopt the method of minute analysis. As an exam- 

 ple of his expertness in this line, it is mentioned that on one occasion 

 lie caught a tear as it was trickling down the face of a lady, lost half, 

 examined the remainder, and discovered in it several salts. He made 

 about thirty scientific communications to different societies, principally 

 on chemistry, mineralogy, and geology. His scientific reputation was 

 founded on these branches, though, from his writings, he appears to 

 have studied and reflected upon almost every department of knowledge. 

 He was of a sensitive, retiring disposition — passed most of his lite on 

 the Continent — was never married — appeared ambitious of making 

 a name for himself, either by his own researches or by founding an 

 institution for the promotion of science. He declares in writing, that 

 though the best blood of England flows in his veins, this avails him not, 

 ibr his name would live in the memory of men when the titles of the 

 Northumberlands and the Percies are extinct or forgotten. He was 

 cosmopolitan in his views, and declares that the man of science is of 

 no country — the world is his country, and all men his countrymen. He 

 purposed at one time to leave his money to the Royal Society of Lon- 

 don for the promotion of science, but on account of a misunderstanding 

 with the council of the society, he changed his mind and left it to his 

 nephew ; and, in case of the death of this relative, to the United States 

 of America, to found the Institution which now bears his name. 



(2.) Ill answer to the second question, I would state that the whole 

 amount of money received from the bequest was $515,169 ; and besides 

 this $25,000 was left in England, as the principal of an annuity given 

 to the modier of the nephew of Smithson. This sum will also come to 

 the Institution at the death of this person. 



The government of tlie United States accepted the bequest, or, in other 

 words, accepted the office of trustee, and Mr. Rush, of Pennsylvania, 

 a gentleman who is still an active and efficient member of the Board of 

 Regents, and one of the most ardent supporters of the Institution, was 

 charged with the duty of prosecuting tlie claim. He remained in atten- 

 dance on the English courts until the money was awarded to him. He 

 brought it over in sovereigns — deposited it in the Mint of the United 

 States, where it was re-coined into American eagles — thus becominc: a 

 part ot the currency of the country. This money was afterwards lent 

 to some of the new States, and a portion of it was lost ; but it did not 



