-A.HST ACT 



TO ESTABLISH 



THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



AN ACT to establish the " Smithsonian Institution," for the increase and dif- 

 fusion of knowledge among men. 



James Smithson, Esquire, of London, in the Kingdom of Great Britain, 

 having by his last will and testament given the whole of his property to 

 the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and 

 diffusion of knowledge among men ; and the United States having, by 

 an act of Congress, received said property and accepted said trust ; there- 

 fore, for the faithful execution of said trust according to the will of the 

 liberal and enlightened donor — 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

 the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 

 President and Vice President of the United States, the Sec- 

 retary of State, the Se6retary of the Treasury, the Secretary 

 of "War, the Secretary of the Navy, the Postmaster Gen- 

 eral, the Attorney General, the Chief Justice, and the Com- 

 missioner of the Patent Office of the United States, and 

 the Mayor of the city of Washington, during the time for 

 which they shall hold their respective offices, and such other 

 persons as they may elect honorary members, be, and they 

 are hereby, constituted an " establishment," by the name 

 of the " Smithsonian Institution," for the increase and dif- 

 fusion of knowledge among men ; and by that name shall 

 be known and have perpetual succession, with the powers, 

 limitations, and restrictions hereinafter contained, and no 

 other. 



Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That so much of the prop- 

 erty of the said James Smithson as has been received in 



48 753 



