49 [ 1 ] 



Purchase is an excellent method of increashig a collection in a sliort 

 time. It not unfrequently happens, however, that acquisitions thus made 

 are of comparatively little value, as is found to be the case in regard to 

 most of the miscellaneous museums, public and private, which are offered 

 for sale. It is of course different with respect to collections made for a 

 specific purpose by practised Naturalists, particularly when they contain 

 undescribed species, or serve as the types of standard w^orks. Considerable 

 operations of this kind require large sums of money as will be seen by re- 

 ference to the annual statement of expenditures made by the British govern- 

 ment in behalf of the National Museum;* and wath the numerous drafts on 

 its income, it is not deemed expedient for the Smithsonian Institution ever 

 to do much for its cabinet by direct purchase. It is confidently believed 

 too, that the Museum will increase almost as rapidly as accommodations 

 can be furnished, by donations of individuals, who may have it in their 

 power to make collections, as well as by the special efforts of its officers. 

 This hope is strengthened by the actual experience of other institutions. 



The employment or assistance of collectors in visiting particular por- 

 tions of countVy is productive of very important results at very little 

 expense. In illustration of this, I would refer to the acquisitions made by 

 the Institution through Messrs. Lendler, Lindheimer, Wright, Culbertson, 



* Expenditures by the British Government for the specimens of JS'^atural 

 History in the British Museum,, 



FROM 1753 TO 1846 inclusive. 



Natural History ill general, - - - £10,405 3 8 



Minerals and F(.ssi Is, - - - 17,-^:W ]-2 1 



Zoological siieciiisens, - - - t"2,751 4 11 



Botanical, 1,-2U4 11 7 



Jlinerals and Fossils, 

 Zoolo<;ical ;-pecimens, 

 ISotaiiical specimens, 

 Preparation of speciuieBs, 



Minerals and Fossils, 

 Zdolooical specimens, 

 Botanical specimens. 

 Preparation of specimens, 



1847. 



1848. 



1849, 



— £ 41,599 12 



— 3,297 2 10 



— 3,496 15 4 



INIinerals and Fossils, 

 Zooiojlicai specimens, 

 Botanical specimens, 

 I'reparation of specimens, 



— — 2,768 00 11 



Total, £51,161 H 2 



Total ErpendUiirRS of nlUiinds, Natural Ilistorij, Specimens, Boohs, Fine Arts, S^c. 

 From 1753 to 1H46 inclusive, ... £ 816,063 11 



1847, - ... 49,854 7 10 



1848, - . - 49,845 2 11 



1849, - - - 47,791 3 4 



•963,555 5 1 



Mis — 4. 



