THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 209 



and such other sums, not exceeding in all ^200,000, as may have been 

 or shall be received in accruing interest or otherwise, upon the same 

 terms as those on which the original bequest had been accepted. This 

 petition was referred to a committee and favorably reported upon ; but 

 unfortunately the press of business prevented Congress from acting upon 

 it at their last session. The petition will agani be renewed ; and 

 it is believed that so reasonable a request will meet with a favorable 

 reception. It is, however, thought important that the amount should 

 be increased, and that the sum of $250,000 be inserted in the petition, 

 instead of that named in the resolution. 



In addition to the $150,000 which the Regents thus seek to invest, 

 there is still a portion of the original legacy remaining in England, as 

 the principal of an annuity settled upon Madam^e De la Batut, the 

 mother of the nephew of Smithson, to whom the property was originally 

 bequeathed. Besides this, I am informed, upon good authority, that the 

 Institution is the contingent legatee of an estate of considerable magni- 

 tude, depending on the demise without issue of a single individual. 

 We may also reasonably expect that if the affairs of the Institution are 

 properly conducted, and its funds judiciously husbanded or properly 

 expended on the legitimate objects of the bequest, other trusts will be 

 committed to its care. It therefore becomes important that the limit 

 should be at least $250,000, so that the whole sum, including the ori- 

 ginal bequest, shall amount to a little more than $750,000. There can 

 surely be no just grounds of fear that the income of this sum will be 

 devoted to improper uses, so long as it is an essential part of the plan 

 to produce fruits, the value of which can be judged by all who are 

 capable of appreciating the advance of knowledge. This request i? 

 also in accordance with the policy adopted by the Institution of asking 

 nothing from Congress but the safe keeping of its funds, and the ap- 

 pointment to its Board of Regents of gentlemen of intelligence and high 

 moral principles. 



The government has thus far liberally fulfilled the obhgations whicli 

 it imposed upon itself in accepting the trust. Not only has the original 

 sum been permanently invested in the treasury of the United States, 

 but interest has been allowed from the time of receiving the funds. 

 Congress has also made several donations to the Institution, which, 

 though they will not prove as valuable to us as could be wished, indi- 

 cate a liberal intention. The first gift was the great museum of the 

 Exploring Expedition, for the accommodation of which the larger por- 

 tion of the present building was originally intended ; the second was a 

 grant of nineteen acres of land surrounding the building of the Institu- 

 tion; the third, a copy of every book published in the United States 

 for which a copyright might be granted; the fourth and Inst gift was 

 that of all the plates, manuscripts, &c., of the Exploring Expedition, 

 for the purpose of pubhshing a new edition for distribution. 



These donations, though made with kindly feelings and in a spirit ot 

 liberality, have proved singularly unprofitable. The maintenance oi 

 the museum of the Exploring Expedition wotdd subject the Institu- 

 tion to an annual expense which would materially interfere with more 

 important • operations. After expending several thousand dollars on 

 the improvement of the grounds, it has been deemed best to return 

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