LETTERS ON PEOGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION. 985 



As you have invited suggestions, I would respectfully 

 submit whether natural theology and the evidences of 

 Christianity might not be included in the second class of 

 subjects to be embraced in the reports. These are not so 

 strictly professional as to forbid their admission to a share 

 in the labors of an Institution established " for the increase 

 and diffusion of knowledge among men." Lord Brougham, 

 who has written a treatise on the former, has defined " the 

 place and the claims of natural theology among the various 

 branches of human knowledge " — (Dedication to his Dis- 

 course on Natural Theology.) And Addison, Soams, 

 Jenyns, and Erskine, without any professional sympathies, 

 have considered the evidences of Christianity a legitimate 

 subject of historical and philosophical inquiry. Might not 

 these subjects, then, be added to your list without impinging 

 upon the liberal and catholic character of your Institution? 



From the American Antiquarian Society. 



Worcester, Mass., January 31, 1849. 

 The Publishing Committee of the American Antiquarian 

 Society, to whom was referred the " Programme for the 

 Organization of the Smithsonian Institution," beg leave to 

 report as follows : 



The joint letter of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary 

 of the Institution, which accompanied the copy of the Pro- 

 gramme forwarded to this Society, contains the following 

 request: 



" Should the Programme meet with your approbation, 

 we beg leave to request that you will favor us with a written 

 expression of your approval ; that you will furnish us with 

 any suggestions relative to the subject which may be deemed 

 of importance, and give us your co-operation in cases where 

 it may be required." 



Although the plan of organization proposed for consider- 

 ation has now been so long before the public, sustained and 

 sanctioned by able men and learned associations most com- 

 petent to judge of its merits, as to render further testimony 

 of little importance, the Antiquarian Sociaty are happy to 

 avail themselves of the opportunity to express their interest 

 in the purposes of the Smithsonian Institution, their confi- 

 dence in the gentlemen to whom the management of its 

 concerns has been intrusted, and their cordial desire to co- 

 operate in whatsoever manner the objects of their own 

 establishment may render practicable. 



