AN ACCOUNT OF THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 291 



took under its care were those of the United States Exploring Expedi- 

 tion which was sent out by the Navy Department, under Lieutenant 

 Wilkes, in 1838. Earlier expeditions under the auspices of the Gov- 

 ernment had been organized, but they either made no collections or 

 deposited such as they did make in private museums outside of Wash- 

 ington. 



The first collections of the exploring expedition were received in 

 Philadelphia in 1840 and were temporarily stored in a room belonging 

 to the Philadelphia Museum. Poinsett induced the Secretary of the 

 Navy, James K. Paulding, to forward these collections to W^ashington, 

 and interested himself to secure from Congress an appropriation of 

 $5,000 to defray the cost of their transportation and subsequent 

 arrangement. 



In April, 1841, the collections were deposited in a portion of a room 

 in the new Patent OflBce, designated for the purpose by the Secretary 

 of State. Dr. Henry King, a geologist and mining expert and curator 

 of the National Institute, was in direct charge. The compensation of 

 the curator was paid from the appropriation of Congress already 

 referred to. 



With what rapidity collections accumulated under the charge of the 

 National Institute may be learned from the report of the committee of 

 the Institute dated January 1, 1842. This report recites that "the 

 entire collection is deposited in the upper rooms of the Patent Ofdccj 

 it consists of: ' 



Donations from foreign governments. 



Donations from other institutions, foreign and domestic. 



Donations from ministers and consuls abroad, and fr m ofidcere of our Army and 

 Navy. 



Donations from individuals and from members of the Institution. The Iowa col- 

 lection of mineralogical and geological specimens, made by R. D. Owen, esq., under 

 the direction of the Treasury Department. 



The collection of mineralogical and geological specimens which had been on 

 deposit in the bureau of the Corps of Topographical Engineers. 



The collection of portraits of distinguished Indians, and the collection of Indian 

 cariosities which had been on deposit in the War Department. 



The minerals, books, papers, and personal effects of the Smithsonian bequest. 



The two shipments which have been received from the exploring squadron, con- 

 sisting of minerals, specimens of natural history, works of art, implements of war, 

 and curiosities. 



The books, minerals, and works of art belonging to the late Columbian Institute. 



The books, papers, and proceedings of the late American Historical Society. 



Cabinets and specimens, deposited by members in trust, for public use. 



These collections, according to the same report, comprised about 

 1,000 books and pamphlets, 50 maps and charts, 500 castings in plaster, 

 medals and seals, 186 paintings, about 1,600 birds' skins, 160 skins of 

 quadrupeds, 50 skins of fishes; L'OO jars, 2 barrels, and 10 kegs of 

 fishes, reptiles, etc., in spirits; 50,000 botanical specimens, 3,000 insects, 



^Goode. "Genesis of the United States National Museum," page 347. 



