TJic Genesis of tJic United States Ahilioiiai AIiiseu)n. 97 



Mr. Adams seems to have Ijeen alone in his advocacy of the observ^atory 

 and his bill and report produced no results. 



It was just at this time that the National Institution was organized on 

 the 15th of May, 1840, by the adoption of a constitution and a declaration 

 of its objects, ' ' which are to promote science and the useful arts, and to 

 establish a national museum of natural history, etc. ' ' 



The constitution of this society in its first form was somewhat meager, 

 but as printed on the cover of the second bulletin of proceedings is 

 decidedly prophetic of the future act of incorporation of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



Its plan, however, was conceived in a broad and liberal spirit, its 

 membership was a strong one, including at the beginning about ninety 

 representative men of Washington, Members of Congress, scientific men, 

 clergymen, and prominent citizens, and as many more corresponding 

 members, among whom were all the leading men of the country. Among 

 its principal officers were the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, 

 ex-President Adams, the Chief of Engineers of the Army, and other 

 prominent officials. The meetings were well attended, the membership 

 was enthusiastic, gifts of books and specimens began to flow in, and the 

 prospects of the society looked very bright. 



In his discourse' on the objects and importance of the National Insti- 

 tution, delivered January 5, 1841, its president, Mr. Poinsett, referred 

 pointedly to the Smithson bequest, saying that it offered a favorable 

 occasion for carrying into effect all the important objects connected with 

 a national institution, such as that just being organized in Washingtojj, 

 enabling the ' ' Government to afford all necessary protection to the pro- 

 motion of science and the useful arts^ without the exercise of any 

 doubtful power, etc." 



Soon after this, in February, Senators Linn and Preston, both members 

 of the National Institution, proposed new bills for the organization of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, at the same time reporting a bill to incorporate 

 the National Institution for the Promotion of Science. 



By these bills the entire management of the Smithsonian fund was to 

 be intrusted to the National Institution. Its officers, a superintendent 

 and six professors, were to be nominated by that society, which was also 

 to prescribe their duties. Provision was made for joint occupancy by the 

 two institutions of buildings to be erected at the cost of the Smithson 

 bequest, and finally it was required — 



That all collections of works of art and of natural history, owned by the United 

 States, not otherwise assigned (or all works of art, and all books relating thereto, 

 and all collections and cxiriosities belonging to the United States, in the possession of 



'Discourse on the Objects and Importance of the National Institution for the Pro- 

 motion of Science, established at Washington, 1840, delivered at the first anni- 

 versary. Washington, 184 1, p. 49. 



= The avowed objects of the National Institution. 

 NAT MUS 97, FT 2 7 



