14 Doc. No. 11. 



their salaries be ample enough to command the best men, and admit of 

 the exclusive devotion of their time to the studies and investigations of 

 their posts. They might even be laid under the restriction of not en- 

 gaging in other pursuits, as our laws interdict the revenue officers 

 from trading. Genius being of all countries, and the intentions of the 

 founder peculiarly expanded, the range of our own and other countries 

 would be open for selecting the incumbents. The desire of fame, in- 

 creased by the hope of their lectures being published, might be expect- 

 ed to stimulate them to exertion ; and if incentives so high were want- 

 ing, the tenure ot their appointments, where the Executive and public 

 eye would be upon them, would act as a guard against slackness in their 

 duties. Ifknowledge is power, power, directing knowledge, may make 

 it efficacious. The place where the lectures were delivered would im- 

 part to them interest and dignity. If delivered when Congress was in 

 session, and not recurring too often, some of the members might be ex- 

 pected occasionally to attend ; as a change from the turmoil of politics, 

 and possibly a good influence on legislation itself, might grow out of these 

 new intellectual elements gathering about its precincts. To the public 

 functionaries of all sorts, to distinguished foreigners, and to visiters at 

 Washington, as well as its resident inhabitants, the Smithsonian lectures 

 might prove attractive. It will have been their lot, if established, to spring 

 up when stupendous agents in nature, and new contrivances in art, are 

 changing the state of the world, in peace and for war; when this coun- 

 try is taking a conspicuous share in these magnificent innovations, which 

 some of the lectures would doubtless treat of, and when the successful 

 results of its popular institutions hitherto are among the causes at work 

 in modifying the political and social condition of other nations. Can it 

 be that, delivered under such circumstances, they would be devoid of in- 

 terest ? Centring in the capital of the Union, to which the eyes of the 

 States are apt to turn with a curiosity both natural and ambitious, may 

 not these lectures do their part also, if recommended by ability, towards 

 raising up among us new homage to mental accomplishments and re- 

 nown, those memorials of a nation's glory, when others perish .'' 



Each lecturer, at the conclusion of his course, to deposite with the di- 

 rector a copy of his lectures- These to be published, or not, as deter- 

 mined by the board of visiters. Hence, if the audience in the lecture- 

 rooms proved, after all, to be inconsiderable, the publication of the lec- 

 tures, when of merit to authorize it, would be fulfilling the intentions of 

 the founder, and the prospect of publication be sufficient to keep up the 

 spirit of the lecturer. We have heard of the Bridgewater Treatises, in 

 England, emanating from the provisions of a munificent will. Perhaps it 

 might not be too sanguine to anticipate, in good time, from the Smithso- 

 nian lectuies, disquisitions doing honor to their authors, and, let it be 

 hoped, to theii- country, whilst diffusing knowledge among men every 

 where. We have seen, also, the publications that issue from those recently 

 formed associations that hold their annual meetings in Europe, and seem 

 to have made science a fashion there, enrolling statesmen, and nobles, 

 and kings, among its votaries. May not the Smithsonian Institution mark 

 an occasion for our country to start in this rivalry of mind .? The race 

 among nations is going on, of wealth, of power, and of science ; the two 

 first extending as the last extends. An immense achievement, which 

 the present year has finally witnessed, the crossing of the Atlantic by 



