900 PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON'S BEQUEST. 



Washington to be arranged and exhibited here. A geolog- 

 ical survey of the Territory of Iowa was made a few months 

 since, by order of the Government, and numerous valuable 

 specimens collected by Mr. Owen. Mr. Nicolet has brought 

 with him interesting collections made in the country he 

 visited, and Doctor King, of Missouri, lately sent to the lead 

 region on business connected with the Ordnance Office, 

 while there collected specimens of minerals which are like- 

 wise destined for Washington. The Ordnance officers who 

 have lately returned from Europe, have brought with them 

 numerous specimens of the iron ores used in the foundries 

 there, and measures have been taken to procure, as objects 

 of comparison, those of the United States. 



Several individuals have transmitted donations to the In- 

 stitution, while others have deposited their collections with 

 us, from a desire to have them preserved, and at the same 

 time to benefit science. We have reason to believe that 

 this will be extensively done as soon as the institution is 

 firmly established. There are many of our countrymen 

 who, like Sir Hans Sloane, the founder of the British Mu- 

 seum, look forward with regret to the sale and dispersion 

 of their collections, made at great cost and pains, and desir- 

 ing to have them preserved entire, would deposit them with 

 an institution which will be as stable as the Government 

 that protects it. For these purposes, and especially if it be 

 intrusted, as we hope it will be, with the specimens of natural 

 history collected by the exploring squadron, it will be neces- 

 sary that measures should be early adopted to have erected 

 on a suitable site, on the public ground, a plain fire proof 

 building, to contain them, where the increasing and valuable 

 collections may be displayed, and be examined by the scien- 

 tific inquirer, and where he may resort for evidence to sup- 

 port his theories or to correct his views. We hope that 

 this further contribution to science will not be withheld. 

 The expeditions themselves have received the favorable no- 

 tice of every civilized nation, and were fitted out in obedience 

 to the will of the people, who would not desire to see 

 the fruits of so much toil and danger perish for the want of 

 this trifling additional expense. We cherish the hope that 

 they will form the foundation of a National Museum, and 

 contribute to spread the light of science over our land." 



