16 Doc. No. 11. 



the moral elements of our institutions, helping to illustrate, strengthen, 

 and adorn them. Such, in my humble conception, it is, or may be made. 

 Even as to the brief outline I venture upon, for the plan of such an insti- 

 tution, I must repeat how greatly I distiust myself, sketched, as it has 

 been, without consultation with others, giving their thoughts to the same 

 subject, who might have corrected, modifjed, and improved, my own. If 

 any of these can be turned to the least profit in abler hands, or serve to 

 start better ones in better minds, I shall be amply rewarded. 



I beg to add that this communication would have been sooner sent to 

 you, but for interruptions incident to the first month or two after return- 

 ing to my home after a two years' absence. 



With great respect, I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 



RICHARD RUSH. 



CoLi.EGE Hill, D. C, 



November 26, 1838. 



Sir : In an interview I had with you some time since, you desired me 

 to express my views respecting the anticipated Smithsonian Institution. 

 I will therefore attempt to do so, though conscious of my inability to do 

 justice to a subject so important in its character and relations. U it be 

 wisely organized, and supplied with a corps of distinguisiied piofessors 

 in the various departments of learning, it will affect not only the highest 

 interests of our country, but its influence will be felt in foreign lands. 

 Let it go up in a character worthy of its liberal founder, let it be sustained 

 with the zeal and liberality becoining the object and our own leputation, 

 and it will add to our national points of union : in these we are not very 

 rich, and, therefore, should be glad to multiply them, to bind together 

 more firmly the elements of the American confederation. 'I'he object of 

 the contemplated institution is "the cultivation and diffusion of knowledge 

 among mankind." This object, I believe, is distinctly expressed in the 

 will oT Mr. Smithson. In making his will, he probably had his eye 

 upon those modern institutes and universities of Europe, which are de- 

 signed, not to teach the first elements of science and letters, but to re- 

 ceive graduates, and men looking forward to professional eminence, for the 

 purpose of advancing them to the highest grades of learning, and thus 

 to give them power to enlarge the boundaries of knowledge, by fresh 

 discoveries and investigations. We may conclude, then, that he intended 

 his bequest should be applied to the erection of an institution for liberal and 

 profesiiional purposes, and for the promotion of original investigations — to 

 carry scholars through a range of studies much above those of the ordi- 

 nary collegiate course, i am iiappy to know that this is the opinion of 

 John Quincy Adams, a gentleman whose judgment in the present case 

 is entitled to all respect. 



Admitting that this is to be its object, it is natural to inquire, in the next 

 place, how it should be organized, so as most fully to promote this design. 

 In organizing it, respect should be had to the spirit of the present age," to 

 the genius of our Government, and to our peculiar wants as a nation. It is 

 of vital moment that it should receive such a shaping as will best correspond 

 with all the particulars. Many of the institutions of learning in Europe, 

 in rigidly adhering to systems of government and instruction settled for 

 ages, altogether different from our own, do not send forth men fitted to 



