The (lOicsis o/ tJw Uiiilcd Stales Xalioiiai Muschdi. 97 



Mr. Adams seems to have l)eeii alone in liis advoeaey of the observatory 

 and his bill and report produced no results. 



It was just at this time that the National In.stitution was organized on 

 the 15th of Ma}', 1840, by the adoption of a con.stitution and a declaration 

 of its objects, "which are to promote science and the useful arts, and to 

 establish a national museum of natural history, etc." 



The constitution of this societ}' in its first form was somewhat meager, 

 but as printed on the cover of the second bulletin of proceedings is 

 decidedly prophetic of the future act of incorporation of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



Its plan, however, w^as concei^•ed in a broad and liberal spirit, its 

 membership was a strong one, including at the beginning about ninety 

 representative men of Washington, Members of Congress, scientific men, 

 clergymen, and prominent citizens, and as many more corresponding 

 members, among whom were all the leading men of the country. Among 

 its principal officers were the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, 

 ex-President Adams, the Chief of Engineers of the Army, and other 

 prominent officials. The meetings were well attended, the membership 

 was enthusiastic, gifts of books and specimens began to flow in, and the 

 prospects of the societ}^ looked very bright. 



In his discourse' on the objects and importance of the National Insti- 

 tution, delivered January 5, 1841, its president, Mr. Poinsett, referred 

 pointedly to the Smithson bequest, saying that it offered a favorable 

 occasion for carr^'ing into effect all the important objects connected with 

 a national institution, such as that just being organized in Washington, 

 enabling the ' ' Government to afford all necessary protection to the pro- 

 motion of science and the useful arts" without the exerci.se of any 

 doubtful power, etc." 



Soon after this, in February, Senators Linn and Preston, l)oth members 

 of the National In.stitution, propo.sed new Ijills for the organization of the 

 vSmith-sonian In.stitution, at the .same time reporting a bill to incorporate 

 the National In.stitution for the Promotion of Science. 



By these bills the entire management of the Smith.sonian fund was to 

 be intrusted to the National Institution. Its officers, a superintendent 

 and six professors, wx^re to l)e nominated by that .society, which w'as also 

 to prescribe their duties. Provision was made for joint occupanc}^ by the 

 two institutions of buildings to be erected at the co.st of the Sniith.son 

 bequest, and finally it was required — 



Tliat all collections of \vork.s of art and of natural history, owned by the Ignited 

 States, not otherwi.se a.ssigned (or all works of art, and all books relating thereto, 

 and all collections and curiosities belonging to the United States, in the posse.ssion of 



' Discourse on the Objects and Importance of the National In.stitution for the Pro- 

 motion of Science, establi.shed at Wa.shington, 1S40, delivered at the first anni- 

 versary. Washington, 1841, p. 49. 



= The avowed objects of the National Institution. 



NAT MUS 97, I'T 2 7 



