1847] WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY. 271 



the Secretary and a committee of the Board, books and cata- 

 logues, and to procure the information before mentioned; 

 to give information on plans of libraries, and to assist the 

 Secretary in editing the publications of the Institution and 

 in the other duties of his office. 



16. The Secretary and his assistants, during the session of 

 Congress, will be required to illustrate new discoveries in 

 science, and to exhibit new objects of art; also distinguished 

 individuals should be invited to give lectures on subjects of 

 general interest. 



17. When the building is completed, and when in accord- 

 ance with the act of Congress, the charge of the National 

 Museum is given to the Smithsonian Institution, other as- 

 sistants will be required.* 



Explanation and Illustration of the Programme. 



Though the leading propositions of the Programme have 

 been fully discussed by the Board, yet it will be important 

 to offer some remarks in explanation and illustration of 

 them in their present connection. 



That the Institution is not a national establishment, in 

 the sense in which institutions dependent on the Govern- 

 ment for support are so, must be evident when it is recol- 

 lected that the money was not absolutely given to the 

 United States, but intrusted to it for a special object, namely: 

 the establishment of an institution for the benefit of men, 

 to bear the name of the donor, and consequently to reflect 

 upon his memory the honor of all the good which may be 

 accomplished by means of the bequest. The operations of 

 the Smithsonian Institution ought therefore to be mingled 

 as little as possible with those of the Government, and its 

 funds should be applied exclusively and faithfully to the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. 



That the bequest is intended for the benefit of men in 

 general, and that its influence ought not to be restricted to a 



* [Re-printed in Silliman's American Journal of Science, September, 1848, 

 vol. VI (2d series), pp. 288-292.] 



