EXAMINATION OF PROFESSOR HENRY BY THE ENG- 

 LISH GOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC COMMISSION. 



No. 6 Old Palace Yard, 

 Westminster, Tuesday, 28th June, 1870. 



Present : His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, K. G., in 

 the chair ; The Most Hon. The Marquis of Lansdowne ; Sir 

 John Lubbock, Bart., M. P., F. R. S.; Sir James Phillips 

 Kay Shuttleworth, Bart.; Bernhard Samuelson, Esq., M. P.; 

 William Sharpey, Esq., M. D., Sec. R. S.; Thomas Henry 

 Huxley, Esq., LL. D., F. R. S.; William Allen Miller, Esq., 

 M. D., LL. D., Treas. R. S.; George Gabriel Stokes, Esq., 

 M. A., LL. D., See. R. S. 



Professor Joseph Henry examined. 



1403. (Chairman.) I believe you are the Secretary of the 

 Smithsonian Institution in Washington ? — I am. 



1404'. You have also previously been a professor in some 

 college in the United States ? — I was a professor for many 

 years in the College of Princeton, in New Jersey. 



1405. Have you any other appointment ? — I am a member 

 of the Lighthouse Board of the United States. 



140(J. Have you any appointment directly in connection 

 with instruction in science ? — No. 



1407. (-Dr. Miller.) You are the Director of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, and perhaps you will be kind enough to 

 give the Commission a general idea of what the objects of 

 that Institution are ? — I must thank the Commission for the 

 honor they have done me in asking me to appear before 

 them. The Institution was founded by James Smithson, of 

 England, a member of the Royal Society, who, after devot- 

 ing his life to scientific pursuits, left his fortune to the 

 United States to found, at Washington, an establishment, 

 under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, for the in- 

 crease and diffusion of knowledge among men. The origi- 

 nal bequest was $541,000, which, by savings and by judicious 

 investments, has been increased to $700,000. From the 

 income of this sum, at six per cent, per annum, the Institu- 

 tion is supported. There was at first a great diversity of 

 opinion as to the manner in which the income should be 

 applied to realize the design of the testator, as expressed in 

 the brief, but comprehensive terms of the bequest. The 

 distinction at that time between an institution for the ad- 



