166 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



calm and serene air, above the smoke and din of our accus- 

 tomed and more strenuous efforts on this floor. It is pleasant 

 to repose upon the green spot he has presented to us. 



I rejoice that this subject demands our attention at this 

 session. After a long term of useful and honorable public 

 service, my honorable friend is now about to terminate his 

 co-operation with us on this floor. It is his last session. It 

 is a fortunate, as it is a most just and fit termination of his 

 ofiicial productions, that he at once finishes and perfects 

 them by inscribing his name where it will be most appro- 

 priately' placed — upon an institution for the promotion of 

 knowledge. 



Senate, January 11, 1839. 



Mr. Robbins' resolution was adopted, and it was ordered 

 that Messrs. Robbins, Preston, Rives, Buchanan, Benton, 

 Southard and Bayard be the committee. 



Senate, January 14, 1839. 



Message from the House that Senate resolution (ISTo. 7) 

 had been concurred in. 



Senate, January 15, 1839. 



Message from the House that a resolution had been passed 

 concerning the Smithsonian bequest. 



Senate, January 16, 1839. 



The resolution of the House was laid on the table. 

 Senate, January 28, 1839. 



The Senate concurred in the resolution from the House 

 to authorize the joint committee on the bequest of James 

 Smithson to employ a clerk, and to cause such papers as 

 they may deem necessary to be printed. 



Senate, February 18, 1839. 



Mr. Robbins, from the committee on the Smithsonian be- 

 quest, submitted the following resolutions ; which were read, 

 and ordered to be printed : 



1. Resolved, That it is the duty of the United States, they having accep- 

 ted the trust under the will of Mr. Smithson, of London, to execute that 

 trust bona fide, according to the true intent and meaning of the testator. 



2. Resolved, That the trust being to found an institution in the city of 

 "Washington, for the increase and diifusion of knowledge among men, the 

 kind of institution which will have the eftVct intended and described, in the 

 most eminent degree, will be the kind of institution which ought, in good 

 faith to be adopted, as being most in accordance with the true intent and 

 meaning of the testator.* 



3. Resolved, That all experience having shown scientific and literary in- 

 stitutions to be by far, the most effectual means to the end of increasing 

 and diffusing knowledge among men, the Smithsonian Institution shoiild be 

 a scientific and literary institution, formed upon a model the best calculated 

 to make those means the most effectual to that end. 



