318 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OP REGENTS. 



of science among us, are in themselves sufficient evidence of its beneficent power. 

 The large and unique library lately transferred from the Institution to the library 

 of Congress, and the extended intercourse between the Institution and all the 

 learned bodies scattered over the globe, bear equally impressive testimony to the 

 wide-spread action of the Institution. 



In attempting to determine the most appropriate use to which the large build- 

 ing of the Smithsonian, and especially the large unappropriated hall in the second 

 story, may be put, your committee has been led to consider the probable course 

 the Institution may follow whenever its resources become consolidated and its 

 means, gradually freed from their temporary application to subordinate purposes, 

 are exclusively devoted to the special object pointed out in the will of Smithson, 

 viz : " the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." The policy which 

 has led to the transfer of the Smithsonian library to that of Congress suggests 

 the propriety of severing also the museum from the Smithsonian Institution, 

 inasmuch as a museum is no more contemplated by the will of Smithson than a 

 library. The accumulation of books and specimens has been a natural conse- 

 quence of the organization of an institution exclusively devoted to the fostering 

 of intellectual pursuits. But in proportion as their number increased they claimed 

 a larger and larger part of the attention and means of the Institution until it 

 became a matter of serious consideration how far the possession of such objects 

 should be embraced in its general plan and scope. 



As far as the library is concerned the question has been settled. It has become 

 evident that, in consequence of the judicious distributing of its published contri- 

 butions and miscellaneous works, the Smithsonian has acquired the most com- 

 plete collection of learned transactions in existence ; so extensive, indeed, that 

 its preservation and natural extension would have encroached upon the specified 

 obligations of the Institution. The disposition made of it leaves the students of 

 science in the fullest enjoyment of this invaluable store of information, while it 

 relieves the Smithsonian of a serious burden. Now your committee is satisfied 

 that the museum of natural history, and the other collections preserved in the 

 Smithsonian, stand in precisely the same relation to the Institution as the library 

 did, and that it may be equally desirable to give them up, and with them the 

 largest part if not the whole of the building, could this be done without injury 

 to the collections and to the cause of natural history. However, it does not appear 

 advisable to adopt such a course immediately ; but it seems wise to keep it in 

 view as a probability, doing meanwhile whatever is most likely to contribute to 

 the advancement of science. 



A few facts concerning the operations of the Institution should be borne in 

 mind in this connection. In the same manner as the Smithsonian has distributed 

 its various publications broadcast among learned institutions and individual sci- 

 entific men, and obtained in return the magnificent library abovo alluded to, it 

 has also distributed an immense number of specimens, and fostered in this way 

 scientific research both at home and abroad. But for these latter contributions 

 scattered over the whole civilized world it has neither claimed nor received ade- 

 quate returns. All the duplicates of these treasures obtained at home from the 

 various government exploring expeditions and surveys have been given away with 



