The Genesis of the United States National Miisewn. 141 



At this time there were twenty-seven paying members of the society, 

 and its income was less than $150 yearly.' 



Mr. C. F. Stansbury, the Secretary of the Institute, acted as its agent 

 for the World's Fair, and obtained there some specimens for its museum, 

 and in 1856 others were received from the New York Exhibition. 



It would appear from the records of this time that there was still a 

 Gallery of Curiosities in the Patent Office not in the custody of the 

 National Institute,* 



In 1854 the Commissioner of Patents, for many years vested with a 

 measure of authority by the Library Committee, was given by Congress^ 

 the administration of the collections and authorized to employ keepers, 

 and a trifling appropriation was made, to be expended under the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior— an arrangement which continued for three subse- 

 quent years. 



In 1857, the Smithsonian Institution having definitely accepted the 

 responsibility of caring for the national collections, all the articles depos- 

 ited with the National Institute were removed. In addition to these 

 there were numerous objects directly under the control of the National 

 Institute which the ofiicers would not permit to be removed. There was 

 evidently still a lingering hope that Congress would make provision for 

 the care of the collections. In this same year, 1858, another memorial 

 was sent to Congress, asking for an appropriation for preserving the 

 collections of objects of natural history intrusted to their care. This was 

 unfavorably reported upon by the Senate committee (see Bibliography, 

 under Brown) and in the House was referred to the Committee on the 

 District of Columbia, whose report showed that "the collections are now 

 in the Smithsonian Institution. ' ' "■ 



'The following letter will serve to explain the nature of the ties by which a part 

 at least of the members were held to the organization: 



Smithsonian Institution, Janua>y j, 18^2. 



My Dear Sir : I beg leave through you to thank the members of the National 

 Institute for the honor they conferred upon me by my election as one of the vice- 

 presidents, and to request that I may not be considered a candidate for reelection. 



I shall continue to be a member and hold myself responsible for my portion of the 



debt unavoidably incurred by the executive committee. It is my opinion that under 



its present organization the Institution can not advance the cause of American 



science, and that it may be productive of much evil. 



I remain, very truly, your friend and servant, 



•^ Joseph Henry. 



Peter Force, Esq. 

 ■ P. S.— I think it would be best to appoint a committee to inquire into the state of 

 the Institution, and to advise as to what is to be done, and how the debts which have 

 been incurred are to be paid. J • • 



= Proceedings of the National Institute, new series, I, pp. 47.48- 



3 Act of August 4, Statutes, X, 552. 



•»Rhees, Documents, p. 653. 



