MEMOIRS OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 775 



Departments, without a particle of assistance from any one of 

 them, excepting the Attorney General, Grundy, whose favor- 

 able opinion Cambreleng, at the last session, contrived to 

 nullify; the opposition, open and disguised, of Calhoun, 

 Preston, and Waddy Thompson, even to the establishment 

 of the Institution in any form ; the utter prostration of all 

 public spirit in the Senate, proved by the encouragement 

 which they gave to the mean and selfish project of Asher 

 Bobbins to make a university, for him to be placed at the 

 head of it; the investment of the whole fund, more than 

 half a million of dollars, in Arkansas and Michigan State 

 stocks ; and the dirty trick of filching the ten thousand dol- 

 lars from the fund last winter to pay for the charges of pro- 

 curing it — are all so utterly discouraging that I despair, of 

 effecting anything for the honor of the country, or even to 

 accomplish the purpose of the bequest — the increase and 

 diffusion of knowledge among men. It is hard to toil 

 through life for a great purpose with a conviction that it will 

 be in vain ; but possibly, seed now sown my bring forth some 

 good fruit hereafter. In my report of January, 1836, 1 laid 

 down all the general principles upon which the fund should 

 have been accepted and administered. I was then wholly 

 successful ; my bill passed without opposition, and under its 

 provisions the money was procured and deposited in the 

 Treasury' in gold. If I cannot prevent the disgrace of the 

 country by the failure of the testator's intention, by making 

 it the subject of a lecture, I can leave a record for future 

 time of what I have done, and what I would have done, to 

 accomplish the great design, if executed well And let not 

 the supplication to the Author of all good be wanting. 



October 29, 1839. 



Fine autumnal day. My address on the Smithsonian be- 

 quest, in preparation for the Quincy Lyceum, as usual grows 

 upon me as I proceed, and I fear I shall not be able to in- 

 clude the subject, as I propose to discuss it, in one lecture. 

 My main object must be to prepare for action upon it at the 

 approaching session of Congress, and to gather facts and 

 arguments for a last effort to save the fund from misappli- 

 cation, dilapidation and waste. 



December 27, 1839. 



The House had been ten minutes in session when I reached 

 the hall. I gave notice that I would, next Monday, ask 

 leave to introduce a bill for the disposal of the Smithso- 

 nian bequest fund. I went to the Speaker's chair, and told 



