16 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



accordance with the will of Smithson, and fail entirel}'^ to realize his 

 higher and more comprehensive conceptions. They do not serve to 

 "increase knowledge," or, in other words, to add new truths to the 

 existing stock; nor do they " diffuse knowledge among men," since 

 they are local in character, and fail to promote the general welfare 

 of mankind. Neither could they all be properly supported from the 

 limited income of the Smithson bequest. A library, and more 

 • specially a museum, worthy of the nation, would, either of them, 

 in time, absorb the whole of the annual income. 



The other system, above referred to, or that which has been 

 denominated the system of active operations, was suggested by the 

 desire to strictly realize the intentions of Smithson, both as regards 

 the increase and the diffusion of knowledge; and this it was proposed 

 to effect by instituting experiments or researches in all departments 

 of science; by making explorations relative to geology, natural his- 

 tory, ethnology, and meteorology, and by diffusing an account of the 

 results of all these, through the press, to every. quarter of the globe. 

 It further includes in its design the collection and labelling of large 

 numbers of duplicate specimens, to illustrate the branches above 

 mentioned, not merely to be deposited in a national museum, but, 

 also, to be distributed to colleges, academies, and other establish- 

 ments, for educational purposes; and, lastly, embraces in its plan an 

 extended arrangement for international exchanges, through which 

 the discoveries of science and the products of literature of the old 

 and new worlds, become the common elements of intellectual pro- 

 gress. This system, which is immediately suggested to those familiar 

 with scientific language, by the terms of the bequest, is a living, 

 active organization, calculated to produce, unceasingly, results of 

 which the value will everywhere be known and be properly appre- 

 ciated. It was not, however, adopted, even provisionally, as a 

 prominent feature of the organization without strenuous opposition, 

 particularly on the part of the advocates of the proposition to apply 

 the Smithson endowment to found a national library. Indeed the 

 ideas which it involved were in advance of the times. That an 

 institution could be established which might have an important bear- 

 ing on the welfare of the world without the adventitious aid of pal- 

 pable objects, H'as not generally comprehended. 



But though restricted in its operations by limited resources and 

 subjected to popular opposition, the system has proved in its opera- 

 tion to be eminently practical, and has established for the Institution 

 a reputation as wide as civilization itself. It has connected the name 

 of Smithson with the progress of almost every branch of science, and 



