The Genesis of the United States National Museum. 133 



building, the Institute maybe assured that the articles deposited by them will receive 

 the same care and watchfulness as those belonging to the Patent Office or those 

 received from the Government. 



It has given me pleasure to try to accommodate all parties, hoping that Congress 

 would make further provisions as appeared to be necessary. The time has now 

 arrived when the wants of the Patent Office imperiously require more of the large 

 Hall, and it remains for the National Legislature to determine who shall be accom- 

 miodated when there is not room for all. 



I regret your correspondence has compelled me to say thus nuich in defense of the 

 position I have the honor to hold. 

 Yours, respectfully, 



H. L. Eli^swortii. 

 Col. J. J. Abert, 



Chn. Com. Nat. Inst. 



Still another blow was in reser\^e. vStatement.s were made in ptiblic to 

 the effect that the collection.s of the Institute were of very trifling value, 

 and one which appears to have been printed, though I can gain no infor- 

 mation as to its nature, made certain charges in connection with the por- 

 traits in the possession of the Institute, intended to show that the Institute 

 was ' ' tniworthy of the patronage of the Goverinnent. ' ' 



This happened apparently during the great meeting of the friends of 

 the Institute in April, 1844, evidently with the intention of cottnteracting 

 any effect which the assemblage might produce upon Congress. 



Mr. George P. Marsh, M. C, at this time (April 4) addres.sed a letter 

 to the corresponding secretary of the Institute, stating that its memorial 

 had been referred to him as a member of the Library Committee of Con- 

 gress, and asking for information to enable him to meet objections made 

 by persons unfriendly to the Institution. The information given in the 

 following letter in fact constitutes a third report upon the national col- 

 lection, a little more than a year subsequent to the date of those already 

 quoted: 



I^ETTER FROM MESSRS. MARKOE AND ABERT TO TUE HON. OI'OROl-; P. MARSH, 



APRIL 8, 1844. 



Wash'n, S .Ipril, iS.f/. 

 To Mr. Marsh, H. Reps. 



Dear Sir: Your letter of the 4 inst. has been received. It found me occupied 1)y 

 numerous & pressing engagements, an<l left so short a space of time for reply that I 

 have been compelled to call for aid upon a friend. Col. A])ert, with whom I was for a 

 long time associated a member of an important committee of the Institute, whose 

 business it was to understand its affairs. 



It is to be deplored that there are persons so unfriendly to the Institute, as to state 

 " that its collections are of very trifling extent and value, and that for this and other 

 reasons not necessary now to be specified, the Institute is unworthy the patronage 

 of the Government." Some consolation, however, is derived from the assurance, 

 that you do not entertain the.se opinions, and from the opportunity which is now 

 offered of correcting at least one of these erroneous opinions the only one that has 

 been presented with sufficient distinctness to be met, namely, that which refers to 

 the extent and value of the Institute's collections. We should have rejoiced if " the 

 other reasons" had beeu as candidly and .specifically made, so that they might be as 



