962 LETTERS ON PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION:. 



persons — or of associations of persons in different places, 

 who may appear to assume the control in any particular 

 department of science — in other words, the formation of 

 predominant cliques. These are the curse of most of our 

 most distinguished societies at home and abroad — and in 

 this country the danger is greater, from the fewness of 

 men well grounded in science, and the disparity that exists 

 between those claiming to be adepts. 



These views I give you, if I know my own heart, with a 

 sincere desire that the Smithsonian Institution ma^'^ attain 

 the highest usefulness under your administration, and that 

 it may go on, " prospering and to prosper." 



I forgot to add, what indeed I expressed to you verbally, 

 that your plan as a whole has my unqualified approbation. 



From Benjamin Silliynan. 



Yale College, 

 New Haven, December 4, 1847. 



Your letter of November 26, with the programme of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, was duly received, and I have en- 

 deavored to bestow upon it a degree of consideration pro- 

 portionate to its importance. 



Regarding the will of Mr. Smithson as the rule and the 

 only rule which ought to govern, I have no hesitation in 

 saying that the views propounded in the programme are 

 sound and correct, and ought, therefore, to be sustained. 



It is obvious that Mr. Smithson intended that his fund 

 should operate intellectually, and no further physically than 

 is necessary for the mental effects. Books, instruments, 

 and museums of objects of nature and art are necessary to 

 that end, and are, therefore, within the views and purpose 

 of the donor ; but splendid buildings, of costly materials 

 and construction, if erected at the expense of the Smith- 

 sonian fund would prove a perversion of the design and an 

 abuse of the trust. 



The neglect in which the bequest was allowed for eight 

 years to lie, creates a claim, both of honor and equity, 

 which ought to result in the enlargement of the fund by 

 the appropriation of the accumulated interest to become a 

 part of the productive capital. It would be a meritorious 

 application of a portion of the National revenue if the 

 buildings requisite for the accommodation of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution were to be furnished by the Government 

 in aid of the o-reat desia^n for the " increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men." 



