National Scientific a>id Ediicalional Instilulions. 285 



The Coluinl)iau Institute was granted the use of rooms in the Capitol 

 building under tlie present Congressional I^ibrary Hall, which became a 

 center of the scientific and literar}' interests of Washington, and its 

 annual meetings were held in the Hall of the House of Representatives, 

 where Southard, Clay, Everett, Meigs, and Adams delivered addresses 

 upon matters of science and political economy to large assemblages of 

 public men. In 18 19, Josiah Meigs, its president, writing to Doctor 

 Daniel Drake, of Cincinnati, said: 



I have little doubt that this Congress will, before they rise, give the Institute a few 

 acres of ground for our building and for a Botanic Garden. Mr. Barlow made 

 great efforts to obtain this object eight or ten years ago— he could do nothing — but 

 prejudices which then were of the density of a thunder cloud are now as tenuous as 

 the tail of a Comet." 



The supreme legislative power of the United States over persons and property 

 within the District of Columl^ia, is unquestioned. Congress has repeatedly made 

 grants of portions of the public lands to seminaries of learning situated within the 

 limits of States and Territories, where such lands lie. The constitution having thus 

 confided to the care of the National Legislature, the rights and interests of the 

 people of the District of Cohnnbia, and Congress having made liberal donations 

 out of the national domain tt) promote the great cause of education in all the other 

 districts within which the General Government has exclusive jurisdiction, it would 

 seem to be cruel injustice to refuse the small boon now recommended. These con- 

 siderations, induce the hope that the proposed donation will be exempt from all 

 opposition, not founded in doubts of the just claim to patronage of the institution 

 for the benefit of which it is designed. And these claims, it is fully believed, will 

 stand the test of the severest scrutiny. 



The report from which the above extracts are taken was made February 27, 1832 

 (to accompany House bill No. 422), by Mr. Thomas, of Maryland (on behalf of 

 the Committee on the District of Columbia), in answer to memorial of the trustees 

 and the president of the Columbian College. 



On the ground granted by Congress, a botanical garden was established 

 by the society in 1822 or 1823 with the cooperation of the State Depart- 

 ment and the cou.sular service. In 1829 the society applied to Congress 

 for pecuniary aid, which was not granted. "^ 



The Columbian University was also an applicant for Government aid, 

 which it received to the amount of $25,000 in 1832, on the groutid that 



' L,ife of Josiah Meigs, p. 102. 



= The original members of the Columbian Institute were : Hon. John Quincy 

 Adams; Colonel George Bomford, U. S. A.; Doctor John A. Breretou, U. S. A.; 

 Doctor Edward Cutbush, U. S. N.; Asbury Dickins, esq.; Joseph Gales, jr., esq.; 

 Doctor Henry Huntt ; Thomas Law, esq. ; Edmund Law, esq.; Doctor George W. 

 May; Alexander McWilliams, esq.; William Winston Seaton, esq.; Samuel H. 

 Smith, esq.; W^illiam Thornton, esq.; Hon. Roger C. Weightman. 



Among the later members were Doctor Joseph Lovell, U. S. A.; Colonel Isaac 

 Roberdeau; Doctor Thomas Sewell; Judge William Cranch; Hon. Henry Clay; Hon. 

 John McLean; Hon. Richard Rush; Hon. S. L. vSouthard; Hon. William Wirt; 

 Doctor W. S. W. Ruschenberger, U. S. N.; Hon. J. M. Berrien; Hon. John C. Calhoun; 

 Rev. Obadiah B. Brown, and Rev. William Staughton. 



The minutes of the Columbian Institute are not to be found. The treasurer's book 

 is in the National Museum. 



