21 [ 120 ] 



jectionable since it wonlcf annually bring the institution before Confess 

 as a supplicant for government patronage, and ultimately subject u to 

 pohticai influence and controL j j i n lu 



After an experience of three years, I am fully convinced that the true 

 policy ot the institution is to ask nothing fi-om Congress except the safe- 

 keeping of its funds; to mingle its operations as little as possi!,le with 

 those of the general government, and to adhere in all cases to its own dis- 

 tinct organization, while it co-operates with other institutions in the wav 

 of promotirig knowledge; and on the other hand, that it is desirable that 

 Congress should place as few restrictions on the institution as possible, 

 consistent with a judicious expenditure of the income, and that this be 

 judged of by a proper estimate of the results produced. 



Lectures. 



At the last meeting nf the board an appropriation of five hundred dol- 

 lars v/as made to defray the expense of lectures to be given before the 

 Smithsonian Institution, a part of which only is expended. The first 

 •coui-se, in accordance with this part of the plan of organization, was by 

 Professor Koeppen , of Denmark, on Modern Athens . These lectures were 

 illustrated by a number of large drawings, for the use of which the in- 

 stitution is indebted to the Lowell Inst-tute, of Boston. A second course 

 was delivered by Dr. Hitchcock, President of Amherst College, on ge- 

 ology, in the lecture-room of the east wing of the Smithsonian building; 

 and both courses r%rere attended by large and apparently interested audi- 

 ences. The results of these lectures indicate that much good may be 

 effected in Washington by this means of communicating knowledge. No 

 city, perhaps, of the same number of inhabitants, contains so many intel- 

 ligent and well-educated persons desirous of obtaining information, and 

 no point in our country is so favorably situated for tiie dissemination of 

 opinions by means of lectures as the political centre of the American 

 Union. Invitations have been given to a number of distinguished gen- 

 tlemen in di'd'erent parts of the United States to favor us with courses of 

 lectures during the present session of Congress, and in almost every case 

 the invitation has been accepted. It is intended to extend these invita- 

 tions so as to call here in succession all who have distinguished them- 

 selves in literature or science. We shall not seek mere popular lecturers, 

 whose chief recommendation is fluency of speech or powers of rhetorical 

 declamation, but chiefly those who are entitled, from their standing and 

 acquirements, to speak with authority on the subjects of their discourse, 

 and whose character will tend to give due importance to their communi- 

 cations. It is to be regretted that the amount of funds which can be 

 devoted to this object is not as great as could be wished. It is hoped, how- 

 ever, that many persons will consider the opportuiiity oi' visiting Wash- 

 ington, and the compliment paid by the invitation, as in part a remunera- 

 tion for the labor and time which their lectures may cost. But in all cases 

 sufficient should be allowed to defray all necessary expenses, and, as soon 

 as the state of the funds v/ill permit, "to reward liberally, rather than other- 

 wise, those v/ho are called to assist t!ie institution in this way. I forbear 

 to publish the names of those who have consented to lecture, lest they 

 should be accidentally prevented from filling their engagement, and the 

 public thus be disappointed. 



