394 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



ardently devoted to science, and that his pursuits were emi- 

 nently practical and utilitarian in their character. The 

 physical sciences, in their application to the useful arts — 

 mineralogy, geology, and chemistry, in its application to 

 ao-riculture, constituted his chief employments. His inves- 

 tigations are referred to and quoted with respect by the 

 great German chemist, Liebig. 



It is more than probable that one whose mind was con- 

 stantly occupied with these subjects, and filled with the 

 visions of rich promise which must be realized in their 

 future investigations, when munificently endowing an insti- 

 tution for increasing and diifusing knowledge among men, 

 looked particularly to those sciences which will be most 

 fruitful in great results, and to which, on that account, he 

 himself was deeply devoted. It is precisely these sciences, 

 and these applications of them, which I understand this bill 

 to be designed and calculated to promote. 



Nor was it strange, sir, that with such sentiments and 

 such designs, Mr. Smithson should have selected our Gov- 

 ernment as the instrument to accomplish his objects. Al- 

 though it must be acknowledged that this Government has 

 heretofore contributed little or nothing to the advancement 

 of science by any direct aid or encouragement — and al- 

 though the points at which it even comes in contact with 

 the scientific world are extremely few, and it is felt to be a 

 great desideratum that these connections should be in- 

 creased — yet Mr. Smithson had the penetration to discover 

 that the United States are the foremost people of the world 

 in the facility of adapting themselves to the progressive im- 

 provements of the age. No other people are now making 

 such rapid strides in the application of science to the great 

 purposes of human industry. This tendency, so very 

 marked at the present day, is doubtless the result of our 

 free institutions, giving untrammelled scope and powerful 

 motive to the energies of the individual man — no longer 

 making the citizen subservient to the power and glory of 

 the Government, but using the latter as a mere instrument 

 to protect the rights and promote the welfare, improvement, 

 and happiness of the former. The olden philosophers con- 

 sidered it a prostitution of the sacred character of science 

 to direct it, in any degree, to the material interests of man. 

 In modern times the sentiment is justly reversed; and that 

 philosophy which does not contribute to the useful pursuits 

 of life, is considered of comparatively little value. In this 

 age, and in this country, the new application of philosophy 

 is exhibiting its most glorious results, and giving promise 



