REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 5 



questions relating to every subject with which it might, in the remotest 

 degree, be concerned. 



The tirst scientific collection to come into the possession of the Institu- 

 tion — and, in fact, it accompanied the bequest — was the small but valu- 

 able mineralogical cabinet of James Smithson, the founder, who was 

 himself a chemist and mineralogist of repute, and a Fellow of the 

 Royal Society of London. Some six years before the Institution had 

 been formally established, however, a society was organized in Wash- 

 ington under the name of the National Institution, afterwards changed 

 to the National Institute, w hich had for its avowed purpose the direc- 

 tion of the Smithson bequest and the pursuit of objects in consonance 

 with the terms of that foundation. One of these objects was the gather- 

 ing of historical and natural-history specimens, from both official and 

 private sources, prominent among the former having been the United 

 States Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842. Rooms in the Patent Office 

 building were secured for the museum of the society, which was vir- 

 tually recognized as the appropriate place of deposit for all Govern- 

 ment collections held in Washington, and here was actually accumu- 

 lated the nucleus of the National Museum. Another important service 

 rendered by the society was, as Doctor Goode has said, in the direction 

 of educating public opinion "to consider the establishment of such an 

 institution worthy of the attention of the Government of the United 

 States.*' Failing, however, to secure the public recognition at which 

 it aimed, the National Institute became inactive in 1846, though it con- 

 tinued in existence. until 1861. The Government collections in its pos- 

 session, which were practically in the care of the Commissioner of 

 Patents, were turned over to the Smithsonian Institution in 1858. 

 Other material directly under the control of the National Institute 

 remained at the Patent Office until 1862, and a portion of the historical 

 objects were retained there until 1883. 



The discussion of plans for the organization of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, which devolved upon its first Board of Regents, led in Janu- 

 ary, 1847, to the unanimous adoption of the following resolution 

 expressing approval of the nuiseum feature as one of its important 

 functions: 



Resoh-ed, That it is the intention of the act of Congress, and in accordance with the 

 desigrn of Mr. Smithson, as expressed in his will, that one of the principal modes of 

 executing the act and the trust is the accumulation of collections of specimens and 

 objects of natural history and of elegant art, and the gradual formation of a library 

 of valuable works pertaining to all departments of human knowledge, to the end that 

 a copious storehouse of materials of science, literature, and art may be provided, 

 which shall excite and diffuse the love of learning among men, and shall assist the 

 original investigations and efforts of those who may devote themselves to the pursuit 

 of any branch of knowledge.' 



' Report of committee on organization, p. 20. 



