104: BOARD OF REGENTS. 



principal modes of executing the trust, was to be made so soon as "the buildings were 

 completetl," and not before. 



As the building is not completed, this division is not yet obligatory under the com- 

 promise resolutions. For some years the annual appropriations for the purposes of 

 the institution were specific, and were applied accordingly. But during the last two 

 years they have been general, and a discretion has been exercised by the Secretary 

 and the Executive Committee, which has resulted in applying to researches, publica- 

 tions, and lectures, an amount somewhat larger than that which has been applied to 

 the library, museum, &c. But this is clearly no violation, as has been charged, of a 

 compromise which is not, by its very terms, to go into effect until the completion of 

 the building. 



The committee think it desirable that the appropriations should be specific, and 

 hpvo already so reported to the Board by a resolution submitted on the 11th of March, 

 1854 ; and at the last meeting of the Biegents the Executive Committee submitted es- 

 timates of appropriations in detail for the present year. 



Before expressing an opinion on these resolutions, the committee deem it their duty 

 at this time to remark upon the plan which was discussed seven years ago, but which 

 is now revived, of devoting the greater part of the income to the accumulation of a 

 great library ; thus either abandoning the active operations of research and publica- 

 tions, or so restricting this means of increasing and diffusing knowledge as to deprive- 

 it of all sensible value. 



It has already been remarked that the language of the eighth section, which directs 

 the gradual formation of a library, is not mandatory as to the amount which shall be 

 thus expended, and that the ninth section authorizes the Kegents, after applying so 

 much of the income as may be required for the purposes mentioned in the act, to dis- 

 pose of the residue of the interest upon the Smithsonian fund in such manner "as 

 they shall deem best suited for the promotion of the purpose of the testator, anything 

 herein contained to the cont7-ary notwithstanding." It is manifest, from what has 

 been said before,, that these sections of the law leave to the Kegents a large discretion 

 as to the amounts to be applied to the objects specified in the act, and in the choice of 

 other means for promoting the purpose of the testator. 



"What, then, are the considerations which should govern them in rejecting this 

 plan, which proposes a great library as the best and chief, if not the only, means of 

 executing the trust created by the will of Smithson, and fulfilling their own duty 

 under the law ? 



The " increase and diffusion of knowledge among men " are the great purposes of 

 this munificent trust. To increase knowledge implies research, or new and active in- 

 vestigation in some one or more of the departments of learning. To difx'use knowl- 

 edge among men implies active measures for its distribution, so far as may be, among 

 mankind. 



Neither of these purposes could bo accomplished or materially advanced by the 

 accumulation of a great library at the city of Washington. This would be to gather 

 within the walls of a building here those fruits of learning which had been reaped 

 elsewhere. It would be the laving of knowledge, not its increase and diffusion. It 

 would be the collection of what philosophical inquirers, men of research, of observa- 

 tion, and of original thought, had ascertained, conceived, or invented, and already 

 published to the world. But it would not of itself add to the sum of human knowl- 

 edge, it would not increase the stores of learning, but only bring them together. It 

 would develop no new truths, reveal no hidden laws of nature, but only contain the 

 record of what might be already known ; so that in no proper sense could it be said 

 to increase knowledge. Neither would it diffuse knowledge, except within a limited 

 sphere. The institution would necessarily be local, for, although it might aid the few 

 men of research residing in Washington, and such students and investigators as occa- 

 sionally visited the city, it would fail to accomplish the more extensive purpose of the 

 testator and of the law, since it could not be expected to draw hither the great body 

 of such men. These must always be scattered over the country, engaged in pursuits 

 which require their residence elsewhere, and with only occasional opportunities of 

 aiding their inquiries by resort to the library of the Smithsonian Institution. While, 

 therefore, a well-selected library of valuable books pertaining to all departments of 

 learning may well be one of the means employed by the institution, its purpose re- 

 quires other instrumentalities by which knowledge may be increased and diffused 

 among men. We must never forget that both the will of Smithson and the act of 

 Congress recognize that, as a nation is appointed the great dispenser of the fruits of 

 his muniticence, so these benefits are to be tmiversal, and their recipients to be men 

 everywhere and in all time. 



If' the lan^uaq-e of the will had been "to increase and diffuse knowledge among 





