292 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



several hundred thousand shells, 500 corallines, more than 2,000 trus- 

 taceaus, 300 starfishes, etc., 100 sponges, 7,000 separate specimens of 

 minerals, and 50 boxes of the minerals and geological specimens. 

 Those engaged in caring for the collections at this time were the cura- 

 tor of the Institute, Dr. King, a taxidermist, a botanical assistant and 

 two other assistants, a mechanic, and a laborer. 



Thus was established what in reality was a national museum, con- 

 taining collections belonging to the Government, sustained by an 

 appropriation from Congress, and employing a curator and assistants. 

 For a time prosperity seemed assured, but complications soon arose 

 which proved disastrous in the highest degree not only to the Museum 

 but to the National Institute itself. 



The room in the Patent Office set apart for the collections by direc- 

 tion of the Secretary of State was needed for the display of models of 

 inventions, and the Commissioner of Patents made strong protests 

 against its occupancy by the Institute. 



In August, 1842, Congress authorized the occupancy, "until other 

 provisions be made by law," and also appropriated $20,000 for the care 

 and arrangement of the collections, but in addition ordered that the 

 persons having the work in charge should be appointed by the Joint 

 Committee on the Library. 



Only a month earlier a charter had been granted to the Institute, in 

 which all trusts previously held were confirmed. "The supporters of 

 the Institute," writes Dr. Goode,' "were disposed to urge that this was 

 applicable to the collections of the 'exploring squadron' at that time 

 in the custody of the Institute. The question did not come up in a 

 troublesome way at this time, for the Library Committee, at that time 

 [not] unfriendly, simply confirmed the choice of curator made by the 

 National Institute, and appointed Dr. Pickering to the x>osition, Dr. 

 Pickering being thenceforth subject to the Congressional committee, 

 and only by courtesy acting for the National Institute." 



A little later, in 1843, the Library Committee, having no longer any 

 consideration for the Institute, without consulting its officers, appointed 

 the Commissioner of Patents to have general charge of the Govern- 

 ment collections, and Captain Wilkes, the head of the exploring expe- 

 dition, to arrange and display them. Captain Wilkes i^roceeded with 

 the work, pushing aside the collections of the Institute to make place 

 for those of the Government, yet professing an interest in the welfare 

 of the Institute and the security of its property. The drift of matters 

 came to the attention of the officers of the Institute only by rnmor, 

 but Col. J. J. Abert initiated a correspondence with Captain Wilkes, 

 inquiring whether he or his assistants would devote any time to 

 the care of the collections of the Institute, and stating that if such 

 was not the case the attention of the Institute would be immediately 

 called to the necessity of otherwise i)rotecting its property. The 

 replies were not satisfactory. Captain Wilkes held that as he and his 



1 Goode. "Genesis of the United States National Museum," page 311. 



