BY THE ENGLISH SCIENTIFIC COMMISSION. 789 



-we are now taking advantage of the new postal regulations 

 between this country and America. 



1480. (Professor Huxley.) I think I understood from your 

 enumeration of the body of regents that the great scientific 

 bodies of the States, like the American Academy and the 

 Academy of Natural Science in Philadelphia, are not repre- 

 sented ex officio ? — No. 



1481. Do you think it would be any improvement if the 

 scientific element, if I may so call it, were more largely 

 represented in your Board of Regents ? — That is a difficult 

 question for me to answer. There might be some difference 

 of opinion as to the amount of appropriation for different 

 branches. 



1482. Of course in your official connection in the Smith- 

 sonian Institution it might be difficult for you to answer 

 that question as you would wish ? — Precisely so ; the Insti- 

 tution has the co-operation of all those establishments, and 

 in no case has there been any refusal on the part of their 

 members to examine papers. 



1483. I presume that you can hardly call the governing 

 body of the Smithsonian Institution a scientific body ? — No. 



1484. Under those circumstances, I presume, that practi- 

 cally very considerable power is left in the hands of the 

 Secretary ? — Yes. 



1485. Is there any security that the Secretary will always 

 be a man of science ? — I cannot say that there is, yet the 

 Institution having established a reputation while under such 

 direction, it is hoped that he will be. 



1486. There is no provision in Mr. Smithson's will, is 

 there, that the Secretary shall be a man of science ? — The 

 will is expressed in these few words : " I leave my property 

 to the United States of America, to found an establishment 

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

 crease and diffusion of knowledge among men." 



1487. So that if at some future time the Regents should 

 think fit to change the destination of the work which is 

 done by the Institution, and to turn all its machinery to- 

 wards the increase of knowledge in the direction, we will 

 say, of history, or philology, or literature, such change would 

 come completely within the meaning of the words of Mr. 

 Smithson's bequest ? — Under the words " increase of knowl- 

 edge," I do not think that literature could be included, 

 though history and philology are subjects which fall within 

 the present plan of operations. 



1488. At present I understand the activity of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution is really directed almost exclusively to- 



