154 Memorial of George Broivn Goode. 



specimens. This appropriation was granted in accordance with the recommendation 

 of the late Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of Patents, in order that 

 the large room in the Patent Office occupied by the museum might be used for the 

 more legitimate purposes of that establishment. We presume that the other part of 

 the recommendation will also be carried out, namely, that the annual appropriation 

 be continued which has heretofore been made for the care of this portion of the Gov- 

 ernment property. While, on the one hand, no appropriation should be made which 

 would serve to lessen the distinctive character of Smithson's bequest, on the other it 

 is evident that the government should not impose any burdens upon the Institution 

 which would impair its tisefulness or divert its funds from their legitimate purpose/ 



111 1853, by the act of Juue 2 (11 Stats., 301), an appropriation of 

 $4,000, " for the preservation of the collection of the exploring and sur- 

 veying expeditions of the Government," was made as a contingent 

 expense in the office of the Secretary of the Interior. 



The nianagement of this appropriation and of all which followed it 

 from 3'ear to year was always placed entirely in the hands of the Secre- 

 tary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



In the report for 1858 Professor Henry gave the following concise his- 

 tory of the relations of the Smithsonian Institution to the national col- 

 lections : 



It will be recollected that by the law of Congress incorporating this Institution 

 "all objects of art and of foreign and curious research, and all objects of natural 

 history, plants, and geological and mineralogical specimens belonging to or hereafter 

 to belong to the United States which may be in the city of Washington, in whoseso- 

 ever custody the same may be, shall be delivered to such persons as may be author- 

 ized by the Board of Regents to receive them." 



The law thus giving to the Smithsonian Institution all specimens illustrative of 

 nature and art to be found in the several offices and departments of government was 

 not construed as rendering it obligatory on the Regents to accept these objects if 

 they considered it expedient to do so. Inasmuch, then, as this collection was neither 

 essential to the plan of organization nor directly subservient to the comprehensive 

 purpose of the donor in regard to a world-wide benefit, it was the ultimate decision 

 of a majority of the Board that it ought not to be accepted and that no part of the 

 donation ought to be expended in the care of property belonging to the government 

 of the United States. 



Previous to the discussion of this question it had been assumed that the Regents 

 were under an obligation to take charge of the museum, and, on this account prin- 

 cipally, a large and expensive building had been thought necessary. After it was 

 settled, however, that the Regents were not bound to accept this trust, the work of 

 construction was carried on more slowly, with a view at once to secure certain 

 advantages to the building itself, and to increase the principal by funding the interest 

 of the money which would be absorbed by its completion. 



In the meantime a very large amount of specimens of natural history had accunm- 

 lated at the Institution from numerous exploring parties sent out by the general 

 government ; and as these collections had been made under the direction of the 

 Institution, and their preservation was of the highest importance to the natural 

 history of the country, it was finally concluded that if Congress would make an 

 appropriation for the transfer and new arrangement of the articles then in the Patent 

 Office, and continue the annual appropriation previously made for their care and 



' Smithsonian Report, 1857, p. 14. 



