854 PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON's BEQUEST. 



pected occasionally to attend; as a change from the turmoil 

 of politics, and possibly a good influence on legislation 

 itself, might grow out of these new intellectual eleraenta 

 gathering about its precincts. To the public functionaries 

 of all sorts, to distinguished foreigners, and to visitors at 

 Washington, as well as its resident inhabitants, the Smith- 

 sonian lectures might prove attractive. It will have been 

 their lot, if established, to spring up when stupendous 

 agents in nature, and new contrivances in art, are changing 

 the state of the world, in peace and for war; when this 

 country is taking a conspicuous share in these magnificent 

 innovations, which some of the lectures would doubtless 

 treat of, and when the successtul results of its popular in- 

 stitutions hitherto are among the causes at work in modify- 

 ing the political and social condition of other nations. Can 

 it be that, delivered under such circumstances, they would 

 be devoid of interest? Centering in the capital of the 

 Union, to which the eyes of the States are apt to turn with 

 a curiosity both natural and ambitious, may not these lec- 

 tures do their part also, if recommended by ability, towards 

 raising up among us new homage to mental accomplish- 

 ments and renown, those memorials of a nation's glory, 

 when others perish ? 



Each lecturer, at the conclusion of his course, to deposit 

 with the director a copy of his lectures. These to be pub- 

 lished, or not, as determined by the board of visitors. 

 Hence, if the audience in the lecture-rooms proved, after 

 all, to be inconsiderable, the publication of the lectures, 

 when of merit to authorize it, would be fulfilling the 

 intentions of the founder, and the prospect of publication 

 be sufficient to keep up the spirit of the lecturer. We 

 have heard of the Bridgewater Treatises, in England, 

 emanating from the provisions of a munificent will. Per- 

 haps it might not be too sanguine to anticipate, in good 

 time, from the Smithsonian lectures, disquisitions doing- 

 honor to their authors, and, let it be hoped, to their coun- 

 try, whilst difi'using knowledge among men every where. 

 We have seen, also, the publications that issue from those 

 recently formed associations that hold their annual meetings 

 in Europe, and seem to have made science a fashion there, 

 enrolling statesmen, and nobles, and kings, among its vota- 

 ries. May not the Smithsonian Institution mark an occa- 

 sion for our country to start in this rivalry of mind? The 

 race among nations is going on, of wealth, of power, and 

 of science ; the two first extending as the last extends. An 

 immense achievement, which the present year has finally 



