780 MEMOIRS OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



the Treasury, and thought the hill opposite Aualostau Island 

 ohjectionable on account of its exposure to fogs, from its 

 proximity to the river. He spoke of two or three other 

 places between Meridian Hill and the President's House, 

 with some remarks on each spot worthy of consideration. 

 He said he had at present no other occupation on hand, and 

 would be willing to devote two years entirely to organizing 

 this establishment and getting it into full operation. I know 

 not that it could be accomplished more effectively, and think 

 I must acquiesce in this arrangement and endeavor to carry 

 it through. The chief obstacle, however, will now be to 

 extricate the funds from the fangs of the State of Arkansas. 

 Mr. Poinsett thought that they paid the interest upon the 

 bonds punctually; but the law requires that the interest 

 should, when paid, be immediately reinvested in State stocks ; 

 and I struggled in vain at the last session of Congress to 

 obtain a repeal of that law. Mr. Poinsett said he was now 

 going in a very few days to South Carolina, but should soon 

 return here. 



April 17, 1841. 



I should have mentioned that yesterday morning I visited 

 Mr. Poinsett and took leave of him previous to his depar- 

 ture for Charleston, South Carolina. I inquired when he 

 proposed to return here, and understood him to say not till 

 next winter ; but then he comes for two years, to preside 

 over the National Institution for the Promotion of Science; 

 and, as he expressed a wish that the Smithsonian fund might 

 be connected with that Institution and placed under its man- 

 agement, I requested him to take the bill reported to the 

 House with ray report of 5th March, 1840, and prepare any 

 amendment to it which would carry out his views, and send 

 it to me before the approaching session of Congress ; which 

 he said would do. 



April 18, 1841. 



I borrowed from the occupations of the week the morn- 

 ing hours, to finish a letter to Thomas Ewing, Secretary of 

 the Treasury, concerning the Smithsonian Fund, its invest- 

 ment, and its application. It involves the condition of the 

 Navy Pension Fund, the State debts, the public lands, In- 

 dian treaties and trusts, and the whole sj^stem of administra- 

 tion of the finances, revenues, receipts, and expenditures of 

 the nation. I present it only so far as concerns the Smith- 

 sonian Fund and projected Institution. 



