i ^O Memorial of George Broivii Goode. 



tlie entire cabinets, both of the society and the Government, were 

 lodged. 



The correspondence referred to in Mr. Ellsworth's first letter evidently 

 related to the great mass of native copper of the Ontonagon (still a 

 prominent feature in the National Museum), which the Secretary of 

 War had placed in the custody of the Institute at its meeting in Octo- 

 ber previous. Mr. Ellsworth was evidently bent upon dislodging the 

 National Institute from the Patent Office. To effect this he pursued the 

 not altogether ingenuous course of belittling the Institute, its work, and 

 the extent of its cabinet, and laying claim to the official possession of 

 more important collections of models, fabrics, manufactures, which, in 

 accordance with the act of 1836, reorganizing the Patent Office, he 

 designates as the " National Gallery," a name which he also applied to 

 the great hall in which all the collections were deposited. 



The Commissioner of Patents was evidently legally in the right, and 

 the Institute found itself bereft not only of its command of Government 

 collections, but also of its hall. 



The correspondence is here printed. 



i^etter kk.om thk commissioner of patents to the secretary of war, 



december 7, 1842. 



Patent Office, 

 Washington, December "jth, 1842. 



Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the Secretary of 

 War of the 2d inst., communicating the information that my letter to his Depart- 

 ment of 1st inst. had been referred to a committee of the National Institute for 

 answer. 



Permit me to enclose a copy of the correspondence with said committee. I have 

 ventured to say in my reply that I did not believe their letter to myself had met 

 your approval. 



The Hon. Sec'y will imagine my surprise at the letter of the conunittee when he 

 is informed that the Commissioner of Patents has the custody of the Patent Office 

 building ; that he holds a special appointment under the Joint Committee of the 

 Library to take charge of all the property of Government mentioned in the act of 

 August 26, 1842, and more especially as the National Institute has omitted to appoint 

 a Curator to protect the other articles received from the War and Navy Departments, 

 or even their own effects in this building since July last, and hence the care has 

 devolved upon myself as an act of courtesy if not of duty. 



Under these circumstances, and having interested myself in the exhibition of the 

 copper rock at the seat of Government, I offered to take charge of it, under the 

 direction of the Secretary of War, if he desired it. 



The disappointment expressed by many members of Congress at not finding this 

 beautiful specimen in the National Gallery prompted me, at the date of my letter, 

 to make, as I hoped, a respectful offer to the Hon. Secretary of my services. Nor 

 would I have replied to the committee had I not supposed that silence might seem 

 to admit that I had been guilty of great presumption. 



Let me add that I am a member of the Institute and cherish its welfare. 

 I remain, with highest respect, your's, obediently, 



II. L,. Ki^IvSworTh. 



Hon. J. M. Porter, 



Secy, of War. 



