4 [ Rep. No. 181. ] 



climes ; even upon that nation from whom we generally boast of our 

 descent, but whom from the period of our revolution we have had too often 

 reason to consider as a jealous and envious rival. How difterent are the 

 sensations which should swell in our bosoms with the acceptance of this 

 bequest ! James Smithson, an Englishman, in the exercise of his rights as 

 a free-born Briton, desirous of dedicating his ample fortune to the increase 

 and diftusion of knowledge among men, constitutes for his trustees, to ac- 

 complish that object, the' United States of America, and fixes upon their 

 seat of Government as the spot where the institution of which he is the 

 founder, shall be located. 



The revolution, which resulted in the independence of these United 

 States, was conimenced, conducted, and consumiuated under a mere union 

 of confederated States. Subsequently to that period, a more perfect union 

 was formed, combining in one systeni tfie principle of confederate sove- 

 reignties with that of a" Government by popular representation, with legis- 

 lative, executive, and judicial powers, all limited, but co-extensive with 

 the whole confederation. 



Under this Government, a new experiment in the history of mankind is 

 now dravvdng to the close of half a century, during which the territory 

 and number of States in tlie Union have nearly doubled, while their popu- 

 lation, wealth, and power have been multiplied more than fourfold. In 

 the process of this experiment, they have gone through the vicisitudes of 

 peace and war, amidst bitter and ardent party collisions, and the unceasing 

 changes of popular electiojis to the legislative and executive offices, both of 

 the general confederacy and of the separate States, without a single execu- 

 tion for treason, or a single proscription for a political ©fience. The whole 

 Government, under the continnal superintendence of the whole people, has 

 been holding a steady course of prosperity, unexampled in the cotemporary 

 history of other nations, not less than in the annals of ages past. During 

 this period, our country has been freely visited by observers from other 

 lands, and often in no friendly spirit by travellers from tlie native land of 

 Mr. Smithson. Their reports of the prevailing manners, opinions and 

 social intercourse of the people of this Union, have exhibited no flattering 

 or complacent pictures. All the infirmities and vices of our civil and 

 political condition have been conned and noted, and displayed with no 

 forbearance of severe satirical comment to set them ofi'; yet, atter all this, a 

 British subject, of noble birth and ample fortune, desiring to bequeath his 

 whole estate to the purpose of increasing and difiusing knowledge through- 

 out the whole community of civilized man, selects for the depositaries of 

 his trust, with confidence unqualified with reserve, tlie Congrets of the 

 United States of America. 



In the commission of every trust, there is an implied tribute of the soul 

 to the integrity and intelligence of the trustee ; and there is also an implied 

 cah for -the faithfiil exercise of those properties to the fulfilment of the 

 purpose of the trust. The tribute and the call acquire additional force 

 and energy, when the trust is committed for ])erfbrmance after the decease 

 of him by whom it is granted, when he no longer exists to witness or to 

 constrain the effective fulfillment of liis design. The magnitude of the 

 trust, and the extent of confidence bestowed in the committal of it, do but 

 enlarge and aggravate the pressure of the obligation which it carries 

 with it. The weight of duty imposed is proportioned to the honor con- 

 ferred by confidence without reserve. Your committee are fully persuaded,, 

 therefore, that, with a grateful sense of the lionor conferred by the testator,. 



