LETTERS ON PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION. 9G3 



If, however, that course is impracticable, we may well in- 

 quire whether an appropriation of the income of a single 

 year — say fifty thousand dollars — might not afford sufficient 

 funds for the requisite building constructed in a style of 

 chaste and elegant simplicity without expensive ornament, 

 and adapted mainly to utility. 



If this course were pursued, the fund would be preserved 

 inviolate, and it would seem to be a wise forecast to limit 

 the annual expenditures, so that an accumulating fund 

 might be formed, which, in a few years, with compound 

 interest resulting from frequent investments of savings 

 might augment the capital to a million of dollars. 



If it is within the views of the Government to bestow 

 the National Museum upon the Smithsonian Institution, the 

 very bequest would seem to draw after it an obligation to 

 furnish the requisite accommodations without taxing the 

 Smithsonian funds ; otherwise the gift might be detrimental 

 instead of beneticial ; and if the Government should retain 

 the proprietorship of the National Museum, but at the same 

 time impose upon the Smithsonian Institution the burden 

 of providing a building for its accommodation — not to say 

 for its increase — this would obviously be an invasion of the 

 rights of the Institution which could not be justified. 



Will not every purpose promotive of the object of Mr. 

 Smithson be accomplished by allowing the National Museum 

 to remain in buildings furnished b}' the Government, and 

 augmented from time to time as the exigency of the collec- 

 tions may require. 



It will then be equally accessible to all cultivators of any 

 field of knowledge demanding such illustrations, and the 

 Smithsonian Institution will be left at liberty to pursue its 

 own objects in its own way. 



As regards the objects of research indicated in the Pro- 

 gramme I would suggest that in addition to the law of 

 storms — not confined, however, to American storms — ob- 

 servations should be made on our various climates in 

 relation to temperature, moisture, and electricity, and their 

 effect upon agriculture and health. 



Under the head of surveys it is desirable also to include 

 our most important mineral resources in coal and metals, 

 and in permanent materials for architecture and for civil 

 and military engineering. 



No mention is made of natural liistory in extenso, and 

 zoology and botany arc not named. 



The outline of subjects might perhaps be made more 

 concise and still more comprehensive, and it is desirable 



