gS Memorial of George Brown Goode. 



2. Resolved, That the trust being to found an institution in the city of Washington 

 for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men, the kind of institution 

 which will have the effect intended and described, in the most eminent degree, will 

 be the kind of institution which ought, in good faith to be adopted, as being most in 

 accordance with the true intent and meaning of the testator. 



3. Resolved, That all experience having shown scientific and literary institutions 

 to be by far, the most effectual means to the end of increasing and diffusing knowl- 

 edge among men, the Smithsonian Institution should be a scientific and literary 

 institution, formed upon a model the best calculated to make those means the most 

 effectual to that end. 



4. Resolved, That to apply said trust fund to the erection and support of an observ- 

 atory, would not be to fulfill bona fide the intention of the testator, nor would 

 it comport with the dignity of the United States to owe such an establishment to 

 foreign eleemosynary means. 



Neither of the bills was received with favor, and the Twenty-fifth Con- 

 gress came to an end without any decision having been reached. Senator 

 Robbins retired from public life at this time, and the university idea was 

 not subsequently brought prominently forward. During this session, 

 however, various petitions were received. One was from Professor 

 Walter R. Johnson, urging the foundation, advocating the claims of "an 

 institution for researches in practical science. ' ' ' 



Another was from Charles Lewis Fleischmann, of the United States 

 Patent Ofhce, proposing the establishment of an institution for the 

 promotion of agriculture, with experimental farms of 1,360 acres, manu- 

 factories, mills, and workshops, a considerable staff of teachers and 

 instructors, and one hundred students at the commencement.^ 



The Kentucky State Agricultural Society petitioned for the endowment 

 of an agricultural .school or college out of the legacy, and the Superin- 

 tendent of the Coast Survey, Mr. Hassler, was urging the foundation of 

 an astronomical school. 



In the meantime public interest was becoming awakened. The matter 

 was agitated in the newspapers and reviews, petitions were coming in 

 from individuals, urging speedy action, and the corporation of the city 

 of Wa.shington, through their mayor, Peter Force, presented a vigorously 

 worded memorial to Congress.^ 



Early in the first .session of the Twenty-sixth Congress, 1839-1841, 

 Mr. Adams again brought up the Smithson bequest, introducing again 

 his bill for the establishment of a national observatory and reenforcing it 

 by his famous report of 1840'' and a speech of considerable length, supple- 

 mented by an elaborate statement from the astronomer royal of Great 

 Britain concerning the observatories at Greenwich and elsewhere. 



' Presented to the House of Representatives, May, 21 , 1838.— See Rhees, Documents, 

 pp. 171-186. 



^Reported to the House of Representatives January 9, 1839.— See Rhees, Docu- 

 ments, pp. 186-198. 



3 Rhees, Documents, pp. 200, 201. 



4 First session. House of Representatives Report No. 277. Smithson bequest. (To 

 accompany amendatory bill H. R. No. i. ) May 5, 1840. Washington: Blair &Ross, 

 printers. 8vo., p. 155. 



