The First Natio)ial Scientific Congress. 475 



Institution, with its central location, could, better than any other society 

 then in existence, bring together the varied State interests and form a 

 body truly national in its influence.' 



This Institute is located at the home of the Federal Government, and its opera- 

 tions are designed to embrace the whole Union. Rising above local and sectional 

 influences, it appeals to the friends of science throughout the nation, and asks the 

 support of all, with a view to the general diffusion of knowledge, and advancement 

 of American science. It is not designed to impede the progress or impair the use- 

 fulness of any present or future scientific institutions or societies in any of the States, 

 but would desire to establish between them and this Institute the most cordial rela- 

 tions, together with reciprocal aid and encouragement. lixperience has ])roved that 

 no one instittition, however distinguished, of any State, can bring to its aid the 

 combined efforts and support of the whole Union. Kach State will desire the ad- 

 vancement of its own institutions; and here only can all meet beyond the limits of 

 all the States, and unite, as Americans, in erecting and maintaining an institution 

 which .shall l)e truly national, not only in its location, but in all its operations. 

 Whilst the hopes of this Institute are most elevated for the future, its present pre- 

 tentions are truly humble. It does not claim to have establi.shed the character or 

 assumed the position of a scientific institution; it does not pretend to teach the men 

 of science of the nation, but seeks instruction from them, and appeals to them, for 

 light, and aid, and encouragement. It asks them to come forward in a patriotic 

 spirit, and make this Institute worthy of the great nation at the seat of whose Gov- 

 ernment it is placed, and where only the now scattered lights of American science 

 can converge at a connuon centre, and radiate thence throughout the circle of the 

 whole Union. 



Disa.ster .soon befell The National Institution. Many of its founders 

 and supporters di.sappeared from public life. The Smithsonian fund, 

 which it aspired to control, was placed under other authority. The col- 

 lections and manuscripts of the exploring expeditions were removed from 

 its custody. The magnificent collections in natural history, ethnology, 

 and geology, which had accumulated as a restilt of its wonderful activity 

 and enthu.siam, soon became a burden and a .sotirce of danger, for Con- 

 gress refused the financial aid which its projectors had c(junted upon as 

 certain, and which they doubtless would have received btit for political 

 changes not foreseen at the .start. Only one annual meeting was held, and 

 the publication of the bulletin containing its proceedings was its last 

 creditable effort. It lingered along, atid in 1861 went out of exi.stence by 

 the termination of its charter, having exi.sted for twenty-one years, the 

 la.st sixteen of which, inglorious as they were, could not impair the bril- 

 liancy of its early hi.story. 



Not oul}' did it accomplish a great work in preparing the way for 

 enlightened legislation regarding scientific matters in general, but it 

 achieved definite and tangible results in connection with the founding of 

 the vSmithsonian Institution, the National Observatory, the National 

 Museum, the reorganization of the Coast Survey, and the publication of 

 the reports of the exploring expeditions; and it had, as an attempt will 



'Third Bulletin of the National Institute, 1845, p. 439. 



