National Scientific ajict JTdncationa/ Institutions. 303 



so congenial to his tastes and sympathies tliat he (hd not hesitate to sa}' 

 that he prized it more highly than the chief magistracy of the nation. 

 He considered his most important achievement to be the Report on 

 \\' eights and Measures, prepared for Congress in 18 iS, and was justly 

 proud of it, for it was a very admirable piece of scientific work, and is 

 still considered the most important treatise on the sul)ject ever written. 



John Quincy Adams revived Washington's national university project, 

 and made battle valiantly for an astronomical ol)servatory. 



In his first message to Congress afterwards, he said: 



Among the first, perhaps the very first, instrument for the imjirovement of the 

 condition of men is knowledge, and to the acqiiisition of much of tlie knowledge 

 adapted to the wants, the comforts, and enjoyments of human life public institu- 

 tions and seminaries of learning are essential. vSo convinced of this was the first of 

 my predecessors in this oflice, now first in the niemorj', as, living, he was first in the 

 hearts, of our countr}', that once and again in his addresses to the Congresses with 

 whom he cooperated in the public service he earnestly recommended the establish- 

 ment of seminaries of learning, to prepare for all the emergencies of peace and war — 

 a national university and a militar}^ academy. With respect to the latter, had he 

 lived to the present day, in turning his eyes to the institution at West Point he 

 would have enjo3'ed the gratification of his most earnest wishes; but in surveying 

 the city which has been honored with his name he would have seen the spot of earth 

 which he had destined and bequeathed to the use and 1)enefit cjf his country as the 

 site for an university still bare and barren.' 



And again: 



Connected with the establishment of an university, or separate from it, might be 

 undertaken the erection of an astronomical observatory, with j)rovision for the'sup- 



' John Ouincy Adams, in his diary for November, 1S25, describes an interview with 

 his Cabinet, and the discussion which followed the reading of his message before it 

 \vas finally revised for sending to Congress. 



"Mr. Clay wished to have the recommendations of a National University . 

 struck out . . . The University, Mr. Clay said, was entirely hopeless, and he 

 thought there was something in the constitutional objection to it. . . . I con- 

 curred entirely in the opinion that no projects absolutely impractical)le ought to be 

 reconnnended; but I would look to a practicability of a longer range than a simple 

 session of Congress. General Washington had recommended the jMilitary Academy 

 more than ten years before it was obtained. The plant may come late, though the 

 seed should be .sown early. And 1 had not recommended a University — I had referred 

 to Washington's reconmiendations, ami observed they had not been carried into 

 effect." 



vSuch opinions as these of Mr. Clay were evidently very much at variance with 

 those of John Quincy Adams and of his illustrious father, whose action in the con- 

 stitutional convention of Massachu.setts has alreadj-been referred to, and at vari.ance 

 as well, it would .seem, with the opinion of the early Republicans, as with those of 

 the Federalists. The views of Washington and Madison, as well as those of Jeffer- 

 .son and Barlow, on these subjects have already been referred to. 



Mr. Adams, in commenting upon an address delivered by ICdward Ivverett ])efore 

 the Columbian Institute, Jaiuiary 16, 1S30, remarks: 



I regretted to hear ... a seeming admission that the power of giving 

 encouragement t(j literature and science was much greater at lea.st in the vState 

 Governments than in that of the Union. Memoirs of John Ouincy Adams VIII, p. 171. 



