960 PKOPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON S BEQUEST. 



what for a public institution, and one under national auspices, we could 

 whenever we desire it, obtain permission to take casts directly from the 

 statues. 



The expense of doing so would of course be somewhat greater than that 

 of purchasing such copies as might be found in the market, but a small 

 difference in expense is not to be thought of in such a case. It would further 

 be desirable to commence the purchase of the models of antiquities, such as 

 models in cork of some of the houses, temples, theaters, baths, &c., &c., in 

 Pompeii and Herculaneum. These can be procured at comparatively small 

 prices. Models of every interesting part of Pompeii which has been exca- 

 vated, presenting in miniature a perfect view of nearly the whole on the 

 scale of 1 foot to 150, might be procured for about $2,000. It might also 

 be well to procure a few Etruscan vases ; also a few antique coins and medals, 

 sufficient to convey some illustration of numismatics, as a subsidiary branch 

 of history. The regents should of couse decide what proportion of the ap- 

 propriation for collections should each year be expended for these purposes. 

 I will merely remark that $1,000, or even $500 at the outset, prudently 

 expended, would procure a very interesting collection. 



I have thus stated quite in detail the work which must be done before 

 the library can be ready for use, or rather before any part of it can be placed 

 upon the shelves. Before it can be ready for use much more is to be done 

 in arranging and cataloguing. To lay properly the foundation of a large 

 library is a slow work, and much time must necessarily be consumed in 

 producing but small visible results. 



I am, my dear sir, very truly, your friend and servant, 



CO. JEWETT. 



Professor Joseph HSnry, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



