The Genesis of tJie U)iitcd States N'atioual Museum. 151 



The next 3'ear made some change in the views of Professor Henry, The 

 presence of his new assistant secretar}^ Professor Baird, and the evidence 

 of the collection that w^as now growing up under his own eyes, that 

 museums may be made important agencies for scientific discovery, had 

 perhaps increased his personal interest in such matters. 



And again : 



Though the formation of a general collection is neither within the means nor 

 province of the Institution, it is an object which ought to engage the attention of 

 Congress. A general museum appears to be a necessary establishment at the seat 

 of government of every civilized nation. . . . Indeed the government has already 

 formed the nucleus of such a museum in the collections now in the Patent Office. 



An establishment of this kind can only be supported by government ; and the 

 proposition ought never to be encouraged of putting this duty on the limited, though 

 liberal ])equest of a foreigner. 



The Smithsonian Institution will readil}' take the supervision of an establishment 

 of this kind, and give plans for its organization and arrangement, provided it be 

 requested to do so, and the means for effecting the object be liberally supplied.' 



In the report for the 5'ear 1852 Professor Henry definitely stated that 

 the Regents had concluded that it was not advisable to take charge of the 

 great museum of the exploring expedition," and also expressed the hopeful 

 opinion that "there can be but little doubt, that in due time, ample pro- 

 vision will be made for a librar}^ and museum at the capital of this Union 

 worthy of a Government whose perpetuity depends upon the virtue and 

 intelligence of the people." ^ 



In the report for the year 1853, presented January 14-Marcli 11, 1854, 

 another step toward the transfer of the museum is chronicled. Tlie Secre- 

 tary wrote : 



I have been informed b_v the Commissioner of Patents that the space now occu- 

 pied in the building of the Patent Office by the National Museum, is»imperatively 

 required for the display of models ; and he suggests that a part or the whole of the 

 Smithsonian building shall be purchased for the deposit of this collection. If Con- 

 gress will entirely relieve the Smithsonian fund from the expense of collecting and 

 maintaining a mviseum, a large portion of the present building would be unneces- 

 sary, and the proposition to purchase a part or the whole of it might properly be 

 entertained. The Smithsonian Institution, if required, would take the supervision 

 of a government museum, and would turn over to it all the specimens collected 

 after they had been examined and described. The importance of a collection at the 

 seat of government to illustrate the physical geography, natural historj^ and eth- 

 nology of the United States, can not be too highly estimated. But the support of 

 such a collection ought not to be a burthen upon the Smithsonian fund.-» 



The year 1854 was the stirring one in the histor}^ of the Institution, 

 and little was done toward the transfer of the mu.seum. The great lower 

 hall, having been completed, was lying idle. The Smithsonian collec- 

 tions were rapidly increasing under the management of Professor Baird, 



'Report for 1S51, p. 25. [Reprinted in Report for 1853, p. 227.] 



-Sixth Annual Report, p. 252. 



3 Idem, p. 253. 



■♦Eighth Annual Report, p. 11, 



