TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, 1837-39. 165 



exercises, would be the Alpha and Omega of my system. 

 The studies should be combined of science and literature 

 with its appropriate arts. As to science, they should be 

 restricted to science properly so called — to pure original 

 science — with some of the practical branches thereof not 

 necessary now to be indicated ; excluding professory learn- 

 ing altogether. As to literature, the studies should be 

 given to select models of a perfect literature, and to all 

 those arts by which that perfect literature has been pro- 

 duced and may be reproduced, accompanied by all those 

 exercises regularlj^ and ardently pursued, by which poAver 

 and skill is given in those arts. The preliminary studies to 

 qualify for admission should also be prescribed. I would 

 have a model school for this preparation annexed to this 

 institution and made a part of the establishment. 



Such an institution, conducted by great masters, as I 

 should hope the instructors to be, and without such indeed 

 nothing great in education can be accomplished whatever 

 the system may be ;- but, conducted by great masters, would 

 make the illustrious stranger, the founder of the institution, 

 as I think, one of the greatest of benefactors to our country 

 and to mankind, and to be worshipped almost, here at least, 

 as the patron saint of education. 



Mr. Preston rose and said : Unquestionably the subject 

 to which my venerable friend, the honorable Senator from 

 Rhode Island, has called the attention of the Senate, is one 

 of great importance, demanding the grave consideration of 

 Congress. As it is in the order of Providence that, as the 

 mind is enlarged, our moral nature is also exalted, there 

 can be no object more beneficent or dignified than that 

 which the acceptance of this legacy presents to us. And 

 surely, Mr. President, the establishment of the Smithso- 

 nian Institute could not commence under more favorable 

 auspices than to have attracted the care of the honorable 

 Senator, who in every way is so eminently qualified to take 

 charge of whatever concerns the interest of learning or of 

 charity. iSTo one has more experience in his own heart, or 

 more exemplified in his own character, the benign influ- 

 ences of education, than the honorable gentleman ; and no 

 one, therefore, in this bod}^ was so fit to have submitted 

 the resolution before you, or to \cast the foundations of an 

 institution, whose duration, we may hope, will bear a pro-, 

 portion to its enlarged objects. I am sGre I but speak the 

 sentiments of all the Senators, when I ofi'cr him my earnest 

 thanks for the lead he takes in this matter. Nor can I for- 

 bear also, to thank him for introducing those elegant and 

 elevated topics which carry us for a moment into regions of 



