The Fi'j'sf National Scientific Congress. 475 



Institution, with its central location, could, better than any other society 

 then in existence, bring together the varied State interests and form a 

 body truly national in its influence.' 



This Institute is located at the home of the Federal Government, and its opera- 

 tions are designed to embrace the whole Union. Rising above local and sectional 

 influences, it appeals to the friends of science throughout the nation, and asks the 

 support of all, with a view to the general diffusion of knowledge, and advancement 

 of American science. It is not designed to impede the progress or impair the use- 

 fulness of any present or future scientific institutions or societies in any of the States, 

 but would desire to establish between them and this Institute the most cordial rela- 

 tions, together with reciprocal aid and encouragement. Experience has proved that 

 no one institution, however distinguished, of any State, can bring to its aid the 

 combined efforts and support of the whole Union. Each State will desire the ad- 

 vancement of its own institutions; and here only can all meet beyond the limits of 

 all the States, and unite, as Americans, in erecting and maintaining an institution 

 which shall be truly national, not only in its location, but in all its operations. 

 Whilst the hopes of this Institute are most elevated for the future, its present pre- 

 tentions are truly humble. It does not claim to have established the character or 

 assumed the position of a scientific institution; it does not pretend to teach the men 

 of science of the nation, but seeks instruction from them, and appeals to them, for 

 light, and aid, and encouragement. It asks them to come forward in a patriotic 

 spirit, and make this Institute worthy of the great nation at the seat of whose Gov- 

 ernment it is placed, and where only the now scattered lights of American science 

 can converge at a common centre, and radiate thence throughout the circle of the 

 whole Union. 



Disaster soon befell The National Institution. Many of its founders 

 and supporters disappeared from public life. The Smith.sonian fund, 

 which it aspired to control, was placed under other authority. The col- 

 lections and manu-scripts of the exploring expeditions were removed from 

 its custody. The magnificent collections in natural history, ethnology, 

 and geology, which had accumulated as a result of its wonderful activity 

 and enthusiam, soon became a burden and a source of danger, for Con- 

 gress refused the financial aid which its projectors had counted upon as 

 certain, and which they doubtless would have received but for political 

 changes not foreseen at the start. Only one annual meeting was held, and 

 the publication of the bulletin containing its proceedings was its last 

 creditable effort. It lingered along, and in 1861 went out of existence by 

 the termination of its charter, having existed for twentj^-one years, the 

 last sixteen of which, inglorious as they were, could not impair the bril- 

 liancy of its early history. 



Not only did it accomplish a great work in preparing the waj^ for 

 enlightened legislation regarding scientific matters in general, but it 

 achieved definite and tangible restilts in connection with the founding of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, the National Observatory, the National 

 Museum, the reorganization of the Coast Survey, and the pul^lication of 

 the reports of the exploring expeditions; and it had, as an attempt will 



'Third Bulletin of the National Institute, 1845, p. 439. 



