136 Memorial of George B7'own Goode. 



that it was ever submitted to Congress. It is of interest as showing the 

 state of expenditures contemplated for the National Museum nearly half 

 a century ago: 



[Memorandum in Colonel Abert's hand.] 



Dear Sir : In answer to your inquiry of this morning as to the probable amount 

 and the division of it which will be requisite to preserve and arrange the various 

 articles of natural history belonging to the National Institute, I have the honor to 

 submit the following views to your consideration : 



One taxidermist, who should also be a scientific ornithologist and well versed 



in natural historj^ generalh% per year j^i^ 400 



One assistant 600 



One entomologist, who should also be capable of arranging and naming the 



reptilia i, 200 



One assistant 600 



One mineralogist i, 000 



One assistant 500 



One person in special charge of the articles, to watch over them, exhibit 



them, etc. , who should also be a mechanic 600 



Two laborers — these should be men of some intelligence and some ability 



in using tools, %\ per day for each 730 



Tools, implements, preserving liquors and ingredients, apparatus cases, and 



other fixtures 2, 500 



Freight, postage, stationer}', and other contingencies i, 200 



Arrearages due for freight, postage, printing, etc i, 500 



11,830 

 Hon. Mr. Marsh, May 18, 1844, 



House of Representatives. 



Notwithstanding the extraordinary efforts at this time made and the 

 favorable report of Senator Choate, Congress adjourned in the .spring of 

 1844 without making any provision for the care of the collections of the 

 Institute. 



Another effort was made in 1845. Senator L,evi Woodbury, president 

 of the Institute, in the annual address delivered by him on January 

 15 in the Hall of the House of Representatives, made a most impressive 

 appeal to Congress. After urging prompt action in the matter of the 

 SmithvSon trust — "a tru.st .so sacred and imperative that a longer delaj^to 

 execute it might prove not a little derogatory to our national honor" — 

 he continued: 



Should the plan for this not be speedily matured, including the use of the In.stitute 

 or its officers, then a grant at once of enough to defray the expenses attendant on 

 the good preservation and collection of the public materials in our charge seems 

 indispensable, and is believed also to be free from every doubt connected either with 

 expediency or the Constitution, as many of the collections now belong to the Gov- 

 ernment and all of them are vested in it when the charter expires, and may be forth- 

 with if desirable. What small sum then is granted for this object by the Govern- 

 ment is granted for taking care of its own property, the title of which is public, the 

 one public, the whole end and aim public ; and that act of duty done, we hope, b)' 

 the further help of our own contributions, with those of liberal friends of science 



