12 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



in English, French, and German, and widely distributed. In answer 

 to numerous inquiries the followin^c: supplementary circular, descriptive 

 of the general character and work of tlie Institution, aiul makiug 

 mention of the Hodgkins fund, was also prepared and translated into 

 French and German, and through the courtesy of the Department of 

 State a number of copies were sent to several of the American 

 embassies in Europe for their general use, in answering questions 

 concerning the Smithsonian Institution: 



Smi nisoNiAN Institution, 



Washington, , 189 . 



Sir: In answer to your inquiry I am authorized to furnish the fol- 

 lowing information: 



The Smithsonian Institution was originally constituted by an Act 

 of the National Legislature, to administer a bequest made to the Gov- 

 ernment of the United States in the eaily years of the present century. 

 The purpose of the bequest was declared to be "The increase and dif 

 fusion of knowledge among men," and its acceptance by tlie nation is 

 the only instance of such an action in its history. The Institution, 

 then, occupies a peculiar relation to the Government. It is composed 

 as follows: 



MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTION. 



Presiding Officer {ex-officio) : The President of the United 

 States. 



Chancellor: The Chief Justice of the United States. 



The Vice-President of the United States. 



The Secretary of Stale. 



The Secretary ot the Treasury. 



The Secretary ot War. 



The Secretary of the Navy. 



The Postmaster-General. 



The Attorney-General. 



The Secretary of the Interior. 



The Secretary of Agriculture. 



The high functionaries above mentioned are its members ex officio, 

 with tlte excei)ti(>n of the chancellor, who is elected. The law also cre- 

 ates a secretary of the above body, whom it calls "the Secretary of the 

 Institution." 



administration. 



The law further directs that the business of the Institntion shall be 

 managed by a Board of Regents, composed of the Vice-President and 

 the Chief Justice of the United States, three Senators, three members of 

 the House of Kepresentatives, and six other eminent persons nominated 

 by a joint resolutnm of the Senate and the House of Representatives. 



The Secretary of the Institution is also the Secretary of the lioard of 

 Regents and their principal executive officer. His duties in this regard 

 are analogous to those of a Director. All correspondence should be 

 addressed to him. 



It will be observed that the immediate and primary object of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, as above constituted, is to administer a 



