[ Rep. No. 181. ] 5 



upon the political institutions of this Union, the Congress of the United 

 States, in accepting the bequest, will leel, in all its power and plentitude, 

 the obligation of responding to tho confidence reposed by him, with all 

 the fidelity, disinterestedness, and perseverance of exertion, which may 

 carry into efteclive execution the noble purpose of an endowment for the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge amona: men. 



SMITHSONIAN BEUUEST. 



Message from the President of the United States, in relation to the he- 

 quest to the United States, hy James Smithsov, of London, for found- 

 ing at Washington an establishment, to be styled " The Smlthson In- 

 stitution, for tlte increase and diffusion of knowledge among menP 



Washington, December 17, 1835. 

 To the Senate and House of Representatives 

 of the United States : 



I transmit to Congress a report from the Secretary of State, accompany- 

 ing copies of certain papers relaxing to a bequest to the United States, by 

 Mr.^ James Smithson, of London, for the purpose of founding, at Washing- 

 ton, an establishment, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, " for 

 the increase and diffusion of knowledo-e amono; men." The Executive 

 having no authority to take any steps for accepting the trust, and obtammg 

 the funds, the papers are communicated with a view to such measures as 

 Congress may deem necessary. 



ANDREW JACKSON. 



Department of State, 



Washmgton, December 16, 1835. 



The Secretary of State has the honor to submit to the President the copy 

 of a recent correspondence in regard to a bequest made to the United States, 

 for the purpose of founding, at Washington, an institution " for the increase 

 and diffusion of knowledge among men ;" and, at the same time, respect- 

 fully to suggest the propriety of laying these papers before Congress, with a 

 view to the adoption of such measures, on their part, as the nature of the 

 subject may seem to require. 



JOHN FORSYTH. 

 To the President of the United States. 



Legation op the United States, 



London, July 28, 1835. 



Sir : The papers which I have the honor herewith to communicate to 

 you. will acquaint you with the particulars of a bequest of property to a 

 large amount,Heft to the United States by a Mr. James Smithson, for the pur- 

 pose, as stated in the will, of founding, at Washington, an institutio)i " for the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." * * * The letter of 

 Messrs. Clarke, Fynmore (fc Fladgate, the solicitors, by whom I was apprised 

 of the existence of the will, together with the inquiries I have made, leave 

 no doubt of its having been estabhshed, and its dispositions recognised by 

 the court of chancery, the first legatee under it having, for several years, 



