BY THE ENGLISH SCIENTIFIC COMMISSION. 783 



it is considered of great importance in the way of making 

 science one in all countries. This is considered a very im- 

 portant part of the plan of operations. Not only are books 

 distributed, but the Institution has commenced the practice 

 of distributing specimens of natural history over the world 

 and getting others in exchange. As an interesting fact in 

 connection with this system, I may mention that all the 

 lines of steamers, the Cunard line of steamers, the German 

 Lloyds' steamers, and the lines from San Francisco, all con- 

 vey the Smithsonian packages free of cost, and also that 

 they are admitted through all custom-houses without being 

 opened, and free from all duties in all countries. 



1427. {Dr. Sharpcy.) Do you receive for the societies in 

 America, for example, from the societies in London, and 

 distribute those exchanges to the societies in America? — 

 Yes, for all the societies. The gr.eat object is to facilitate 

 in every possible way the promotion of science, and espe- 

 cially the fostering of original research, and enlarging the 

 bounds of human thought. It is a matter of surprise that 

 the idea is not more generally understood by statesmen and 

 legislators, that modern civilization depends upon science, 

 including the knowledge of the forces of nature, and the 

 modes in which they become the agents of man. Every dis- 

 covery is connected with good. Even the human body can- 

 not be properly understood without a knowledge of that of 

 all other organized beings. 



1428. {Sir J. Lubbock^) Is there in America any general 

 inspection of primary schools corresponding to that which 

 we have in this country ? — In the different States there are 

 primary schools and inspectors. 



1420. Are they inspected by State inspectors ? — Yes. 



1430. But not by general inspectors ? — The several States 

 are considered as sovereign kingdoms, as it were. Each 

 regulates its own code of instruction, and makes provision 

 through its legislature for the support of schools. 



1431. Do the States generally have any general inspection 

 of those schools ? — Most of the States have a school superin- 

 tendent, as he is called, and he inspects the schools. 



1432. Can you tell the Commission to what subjects the 

 examination refers at those inspections ? — They are reading, 

 writing, arithmetic, geography, grammar; the ordinary 

 elementary branches. 



1433. Then it includes in fact some little elementary 

 science ? — No other, I think, than geograplrv. The teachers 

 may lecture on other subjects. 



1434. But the inspection, you think, does not include 



