143 [ 23 ] 



" The Smithsonian design is, as I have already suggested, a pecuHar one. 

 It cannot, as a scene of educational training, have any pretensions or pro- 

 voke any jealousies. It is no rival of the many admirable schools which 

 adorn the respective States, and can in no manner intrude upon their 

 spheres of action. Yet it will be a factory and a storehouse of knowledge, 

 accessible to all the agents of this vast confederacy — its executive, legisla- 

 tive, judicial, civil, military, foreign and domestic agents. It will be the 

 recipient, too, of such fruits of the labors, and such acquisitions of the 

 enterprise and travels of these agents, as may contribute to illustrate, and 

 explain, and facilitate the public service, or to give precision and vigor to 

 its operations of every kind. As a resource and a sanctuary for intellect, 

 the institution can hardly fail to become an object of patriotic pride and 

 attachment, and must be felt as a persuasive inducement to preserve invi- 

 olate the constitution, with whose fate its own is identified. 



" I will not dwell upon its special claim to the fostering kindness and hos- 

 pitality of the Metropolis. Her citizens doubtless appreciate that justly. 

 By designating Washington for its local habitation, the generous testator 

 has summoned the intelligence, the courtesy, and the philanthropy of her 

 inhabitants, as auxiliaries to his beneficent project. Already it has added 

 to her social scene a fixed star, whose beams pervade the scientific world; 

 and, ere long, this rising temple, consecrated to the highest of human pur- 

 suits, KNOWLEDGE, will givo frcsli attraction and firmness to her destiny. 



^' Mr. Dallas having concluded, a national salute was fired by the Colum- 

 bian artillery, while the band played a national air. 



" The benediction was then pronounced by the Rev. F. S. Evans, and 

 thus were concluded the ceremonies of the day, which were witnessed by 

 at least six or seven thousand persons." 



THIRTY-FOURTH MEETING— May 25, 1S4T. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton and Totten. 



Mr. O. Buckingham appeared before the committee, and represented that, 

 in laying the water pipe from the five plug on the Market square to the site 

 of the Smithsonian building, according to his contract, (see page 124,) he 

 had incurred (o\-er the amount of |650, as agreed on in that contract) an 

 excess of expenditure which, including the sum of $S4 for his personal 

 services, amounted to |138 23; as shown in the following specification of 

 items : 



Building- Committee of the Smithsonian Institution, 



May is, 1S47. To C. Bucldngliam. 



To lead pipe to conduct water from avenue to the site of build- 

 ing, 8,090 lbs., at G^ cents - - - - $<5b6 IS 

 107 lbs. of lead pipe, at 7i cents - - - - '-> JO 

 156 lbs. of lead pipe, at 7^ cents - - - " . ].^ j.? 

 iron pipe across the canal - - - - " qa in 

 plumber's bill for making joints - - - " on nn 

 excavation and filling in same - - - " i ^ no 

 one hand, ten days, at $1 50 - - - " |^ JJ^ 

 one laborer, ten days, at ij^l - - " - lU UU 



