LETTERS ON PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION. 977 



in order to show the excellence of each part in its further- 

 ance of the grand object of the Smithsonian Institution, as 

 an impartial mind by attentively perusing your report will 

 easily perceive how fully it embraces the benevolent designs 

 of the founder. 



From E. Robinson. 



Union Theological Seminary, 



New York, December 18, 1848. 



Your letter announcing the first volume of the Contribu- 

 tions, was put into my hands on Saturday; though the 

 volume was received some days earlier. I beg leave to re- 

 turn thanks, in behalf of the Directors and Faculty of the 

 Seminary, for the volume in question, which contains a rich 

 harvest of information, that always seemed to me a very 

 appropriate beginning for such an Institution. 



In regard to the Programme forwarded, I have already 

 stated to Professor Henry, and perhaps to yourself, my fa- 

 vorable views. 



From Henry Brewer ton. 



U. S. Military Academy, 

 West Point, N. Y., December 18, 1848. 

 After carefully looking over the Programme, I find noth- 

 ing to suggest, by way of improvement, in the details of 

 the plan adopted for carrying out the bequest of Mr. Smith- 

 eon. 



From Francis Wayland. 



Brown University, 

 Providence, K. I., December 19, 1848. 

 I have been for some time acquainted with the Pro- 

 gramme of the Smithsonian Institution, and have deliber* 

 ately reflected upon the plans which it unfolds for carrying 

 into eft'ect the benevolent designs of the testator; and it 

 gives me great pleasure to assure you that I cordially ap- 

 prove of them. In the first [)laee, I can conceive of no 

 other method by which Mr. Smithson's object, to increase 

 and difiiise knowledge among men, could be so literally and 

 completely realized. In the next place, the work which it 

 aims to" accomplish is of inestimable importance, and it can 

 be accoTni)li8hed by no other institution now existing in 

 our country. You will thus be enabled to render most 

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