4 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



either by his own researches or by founding an institution for the promotion of 

 science. He declared, in writing, that though the best blood of England flowed 

 in his veins, this availed him not, for his name would live in the memory of man 

 when the titles of the Northumberlands and Percies were extinct or forgotten. 

 He was cosmopolitan in his views, and affirmed that the man of science is of no 

 country — the world is his country, and all men his countrymen. He proposed 

 at one time to leave his money to the lloyal Society of London, for the promotion 

 of science, but on account of a misunderstanding with the council of the Society 

 he changed his mind, and left it to his nephew, and in case of the death of thia 

 relative, to the United States, to found the Institution which now bears his name. 



The original amount received from the bequest was $.515,109 ; but from a res- 

 iduary legacy, savings of interest, &c.,the fund has been increased to $050,000 

 now in the Treasury of the United States and yielding six per cent, interest. 

 The Government of the United States accepted the bequest, or in other words, 

 accepted the office of trustee, and the Hon. Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania, was 

 charged with the duty of prosecuting the claim. He remained in attendance on 

 the English courts until the money was awarded to him. He brought it over in 

 sovereigns, deposited it in the Mint of the United States, where it was recoined 

 into American eagles, thus becoming a part of the currency of the country. 



At the time of the passing of the act establishing the Institution, in 1840, 

 tne sum of S242,000 had accrued in interest, and this the Regents were authorized 

 to expend on a building. But, instead of appropriating this sum immediately to 

 this purpose, they put it at interest, and deferred the completion of the building 

 for several years, until over $100,000 should be accumulated, the income of 

 which might defray the expenses of keeping the building, and the greater portion 

 of the income of the original bequest be devoted to the objects for which it was 

 designed. This policy has been rigidly adhered to, and notwithstanding an 

 ex|5endituro of $450,000 on the building, the collection of a largo library 

 and museum, and the publication of many volumes of original researches, the 

 bequest of Smithson is not only undiminished, but has increased more than a 

 hundred thousand dollars. 



Il]e f\i{^ of 0irc(^^)i;!j|iio^. 



The bequest, in the language of the testator, was " to found at Washington an 

 establishment, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, for the increase and 

 diffusion of knowledge among men." According to this, the Government of the 

 United States is merely a trustee. The bequest is for the henejii of minkind, and 

 any plan which does not recognize this provision of the will would be illiberal and 

 unjust. The Institution must bear and perpetuate the name of its founder, and 

 hence its operations are kept distinct from those of the General Government, and 



