The Genesis of the United States National Museum. 185 



mittee request the Hon. Levi Woodbury to present it to the Senate, and the Hon. 

 John Quincy Adams to present it to the House of Representatives, at the present 

 session. 



Whereupon, the Chair appointed the following gentlemen to constitute the com- 

 mittee: Colonel J. J. Abert, John T. Sullivan, Doctor Sewall, Doctor Thomas. Messrs. 

 Seaton, and J. C. Brent.' 



III. 



MEMORIAL OF THE FRIENDS OF SCIENCE WHO ATTENDED THE APRIL 

 MEETINO OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 



To the Congress of the United States.— The respectful memorial of the friends of 

 Scieuee, assembled at the City of Washington, from various parts of the Union: 

 The undersigned have come together at the capital of the United States, at the call 

 of the National Inslitute for the Promotion of Science, with the purpose of commu- 

 nicating to each other the facts and reasonings in science which each one's research 

 might have suggested, and of interchanging views and opinions in regard to the 

 progress of science in our country. 



While engrossed in this delightful and most profitable communion, we have had 

 an opportunity to observe the results of the efforts made by the members of the 

 National Institute for the advancement of science. Founded only four years since, 

 they have already brought together valuable collections in natural history and in 

 the arts. Connecting themselves, with the Government, through the heads of Depart- 

 ments, who, by virtue of their offices, are directors of the Institute, they have vol- 

 untarily imposed restraints upon the operations of the Institute, which will preserve 

 its national character and prevent its being tributary to any local or sectional pur- 

 pose. By making the Institute merely a trustee for the United States of the prop- 

 erty which it possesses, and may hereafter acquire, they have proved that no sordid 

 or interested views guided them in framing their constitution. The zeal and indus- 

 try shown in making collections, the disinterestedness in the disposition of them, 

 would seem to deserve from the Government of the Republic approval and encour- 

 agement. The value of the property already collected, although the existence of 

 the Institute has been so short, is very great. And yet it has no building for the 

 convenient exhibition of its treasures, or even for their safe keeping. And if articles 

 of so much interest and value have already been collected, what may not be expected 

 from the army, the navy, and friends of science generally, in the long reach of years 

 to come, if a suitable place can be provided for their preservation and exhibition. 

 But how are the means of providing such a l)uilding to be obtained? If attained at 

 all for such a purpose by voluntary contributions, it could only be in the midst of 

 large and flourishing communities. I^ocal feelings of interest or pride can not be 

 transferred, and it is not to be expected that the means to arrange, display, preserve, 

 and augment these collections can be procured by voluntary contributions of indi- 

 viduals in the District of Columbia, or that they can be procured out of the District. 

 There is no civilized nation, however narrow its policy in other respects, which does 

 not exhibit some measure of interest in promoting the advancement of human knowl- 

 edge. In most countries science receives direct encouragement, and many Govern- 

 ments have vied with each other in their efforts to advance this cause. The Govern- 

 ment of a country emulous to consider itself among the first of enlightened nations, 

 we trust, will not refuse to aid in securing to its capital the benefits of the labors of 

 the National Institute. We cordially unite with the resident members of the Insti- 

 tute in asking an appropriation in its behalf from Congress. Our only fear is that 

 in thus requesting aid for the keeping of what in fact is the property of the Govern- 

 ment, we may be considered as asking a boon far below that which the country calls 

 for, and that we ought to urge upon the National Legislature a liberal and plenteous 



'Proceedings of the National Institute, 3d Bull., p. 375. 



