102 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



The fifth section enacts that the Eegents shall cause to be erected " a suitable build- 

 ing of sufficient size, and with suitable rooms or halls for the reception and arrange- 

 ment, upon a liberal scale, of objects of natural history, including a geological and 

 mineralogical cabinet; also, a chemical laboratory, a library, a gallery of art, and 

 the necessary lecture rooms," &c. This section points out certain means and insti-u- 

 mentalities by which the institution is to " execute the trust " " according to the will 

 of the liberal and enlightened donor." But it does not limit the Eegents to these 

 means and instrumentalities. A large discretion is elsewhere given to them to employ 

 other means and instrumentalities "for the promotion of the purpose of the testa- 

 tor" — that is, "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." 



The eighth section, in its last clause, directs an annual appropriation, from the in- 

 terest of the funds belonging to the institution, " not exceeding an average of $25,000 

 annually, for the gradual formation of a library composed of valuable works pertain- 

 ing to all departments of human knowledge." 



And the ninth section enacts that of "any other moneys which have accrued, or 

 shall hereafter accrue, as interest upon the said Smithsonian fund, not herein appro- 

 priated, or not required for the purposes herein provided, the said managers (Eegents) 

 are hereby authorized to make such disposal as they shall deem best suited for the 

 promotion of the purpose of the testator, anything herein contained to the contrary 

 notwithstanding." 



Let us see, now, how far the Eegents have complied with these requirements of the 

 law. 



They have caused to be erected a building, which is, in the judgment of the Board, 

 suitable, of sufficient size, of plain and durable materials, with suitable rooms for the 

 reception and arrangement, upon a liberal scale, of the objects mentioned in the fifth 

 section of the act. The building, it is true, is not yet completed in all its parts. This 

 has been the result, partly of design, and partly of accident. As the law specified no 

 period, within which the building should be completed, the time of its completion 

 was necessarily within the discretion of the Eegents. It was obvious that if they 

 should not hurry its completion, but extend the work upon it through a series of years, 

 they would save a large amount of accruing interest, which, when the building 

 should be finished, might be added to the permanent fund, whereby the means of 

 accomplishing the purposes of the testator would be largely increased. An additional 

 reason for this was, that the structure, thus slowly and cautiously erected, would be 

 more solid and permanent. This policy, therefore, was adopted, and it was deter- 

 mined that the building should be finished in five years. An accident, well known 

 to the Board, and which, in the end must prove to have been fortunate, required a 

 change in the plan of a part of the edifice, and a larger expenditure of money. This 

 cause has further delayed the completion of the building. But during the present 

 year it will be finished on the liberal scale required by the law, and one hundred and 

 fifty thousand dollars of accrued interest will be saved, to be added to the principal. 



In the meantime, the Eegents have made appropriations of money for the various 

 objects specified in the fifth section of the act, by which and other means they have 

 complied as well with the letter as the spirit of the law. A largo and valuable col- 

 lection of objects of natural history has been made, and, for the most part, classified; 

 a geological and mineralogical cabinet has been provided, and a chemical laboratory 

 has been fitted up, in which researches and experiments have been made. The build- 

 ing contains an apartment intended for a gallery of art; and some works of art, a 

 valuable collection of engravings, have been purchased. 



A lecture room has been finished, and for several years lectures have been given, at 

 the expense of the institution, on scientific and literary, abtruse and popular subjects, 

 the admission to which has been free. A library of 12,000 volumes and 8,000 pam- 

 phlets and parts of volumes has been acquired by purchase, exchanges, and other 

 means, containing many rare and valuable works pertaining to all branches of knowl- 

 edge, such as are not to be found in general libraries, and are most highly prized by 

 men of science and research. 



This is a very good beginning, according to the plan, for the gradual formation of 

 a library, which the act points out. 



Of the entire amount expended from the commencement of the institution, a little 

 less than one-eighth has been given to researches and publications. Thereat has been 

 applied to the special objects mentioned in the act, and to the general expenses of the 

 institution. 



In the act establishing the institution, Congress carefully and wisely forebore to fix 

 the amount of proportion of the annual income which should be appropriated to any 

 of the objects mentioned in the fifth section. They did not even determine or limit 

 the sum which should be expended on the building, nor have they in any manner indi- 



