300 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



After these collections were transferred to the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, in 1858, the appropriations for maintenance continued year by 

 year, though small in amount. In 1858 the appropriation was $3,650; 

 in 1859, and for eight years following, $4,000. The Institution never 

 received any compensation for the occupancy of its building. As early 

 as 1856 1 Professor Henry expressed the opinion at an early day that 

 the Government might with propriety and advantage purchase the 

 Smithsonian building from the Institution for housing the Govern- 

 ment collections "of natural history and the fine arts," but no action 

 in that direction was ever taken. 



When these collections were transferred from the Patent Office a 

 series of new cases, designed by Thomas U. Walter, were erected in 

 the main hall of the Smithsonian building for their display. Great 

 progress has been made in museum methods in the last two decades, 

 but the cases, arrangement, labeling, and taxidermy in the Smithsonian 

 museum thirty-five years ago were probably as good as could be found 

 in any scientific museum in the world at that time. The exhibition of 

 many examples of a single species of animal or mineral, or of a single 

 kind of ethnological or geological object, was not considered objection- 

 able, and it was a common i^ractice to mount and exhibit type speci- 

 mens of animals. To such matters as the size of glass in cases, the 

 color of woodwork and labels, the effect of difterent groupings of 

 specimens, little attention Avas devoted. Indeed, the amount of money 

 spent ujion scientific museums was not sufficient for great refinement 

 in display. Collections were exhibited for the satisfaction of the mature 

 man of science, rather than the youthful student and the layman. 

 Yet these latter classes were neither purposely neglected nor did they 

 comi)lain of the methods in vogue. 



It is with interest that we read the following comment by Professor 

 Henry on the Smithsonian museum in 1 861 : 



During the past year Washiugton has been visited by a greater number of strangers 

 than ever before since the commencement of its history. The museum has conse- 

 quently been continually thronged with visitors, and has been a never-failing source 

 of pleasure and instruction to the soldiers of the Army of the United States quartered 

 in this city or its vicinity. Encouragement has been given them to visit it as often 

 as their duties would permit them to devote the time for the purpose."^ 



In 1865 an event of much importance occurred. A fire broke out in 

 the second floor of the Smithsonian building and destroyed the upper 

 portions of the edifice. Many collections were entirely destroyed or 

 injured beyond repair, among which the most important were Smithson's 

 personal effects and cabinet of minerals, a large series of portraits 

 of Indians painted and owned by J. M. Stanley, and the collection of 

 physical instruments, including Hare's experimental apparatus and 

 "the lens used by Priestley for the evolution of oxygen from the oxide 



1 Smithsonian Report, 1856, page 22. Uhid., 1861, page 44. 



