322 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



And the question on the first branch of the resolution was taken, 

 and decided in the afiirmative. 



So the bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state 

 of the Union. 



And the question recurring on the second branch of the resolution, 



Mr. Owen said: 1 hope the House will suffer me to say one word 

 on the subject. The money appropriated by this bill has been in our 

 Treasury between seven and eight years; and, in all that time, not a 

 dollar of it has been used in accordance with the will of the testator. 

 We can not suppose Congress unwilling to act in such a matter. It 

 has heretofore failed, because, in the conflict on other important sub- 

 jects, it was delayed, and remained among the unfinished business. 

 This will again be its fate unless we make it the special order for 

 some day. The committee put it off until April. If even that be too 

 early, let a later day be named. But at all events, let some daj^ be 

 fixed when we may know that the subject will be taken up; so that 

 we at last escape the just reproach of receiving money for one of the 

 best purposes on earth, and then doing nothing with it. 



The question was then taken on the second l^ranch of the resolution, 

 and decided in the affirmative — two-thirds voting therefor. 



So the bill was made the special order ' f the day for the second 

 Tuesday in April next. 



Mr. R. D. Owen, from the select committee on the Smithsonian 

 bequest, made the following report: 



The select committee on the Smithsonian bequest, to whom was 

 referred House bill No. 5, entitled a "■ bill to establish the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among 

 men," have had the same under consideration, and have instructed me 

 to report the same back with one amendment. The bill, as it was 

 referred to them, reads as follows: 



A bill to establish the "Smithsonian Institution," for the increase and diffusion of knowledge 



among men. 



Whereas James Smithson, Esquire, of London, in the Kingdom of Great Britain, 

 by his last will and testament, did give the whole of his property to the United 

 States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men; 

 and whereas Congress have heretofore received said property and accepted said trust: 

 Therefore, that the same may be executed in good faith, and according to the will of 

 the liberal and enlightened donor — 



Be it enacted, etc. That so much of the property of the said James Smithson as has 

 been received in money, and paid into the Treasury of the United States, being the 

 sum of 1515,169, be lent to the United States Treasury, at six per cent per annum 

 interest, from September 1, 1838, when the same was received into the said Treasury, 

 and that so much of the interest as may have accrued on said sum on the first day of 

 July next, which will amount to the sum of $242,129, or so much thereof as shall by 

 the board of managers of the Institution established by this act be deemed necessary, 

 be, and the same is hereby, appropriated for the erection of suitable buildings, the 

 enclosing and preparing of suitable grounds, and for other current incidental expenses 



