THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS, 1853-1855. 583 



United States, and the eagerness to jiossess them is very great among the savants of 

 the Old \V^orld. They were shown to me wherever I went, and the commendations 

 bestowed on the civihzation of America, as evinced by the excellence of these works, 

 both in matter and form, was deeply gratifying to me. The last time I had an 

 opportunity of seeing them was in the university library at Athens. The librarian 

 pointed them out to me and expressed the greatest anxiety to complete the set, one 

 or two volumes of which were wanting. 



The publications thus approved bring to the Smithsonian Institution 

 a return of works published by the learned societies of the world and 

 b}" governments such as could not be procured in any other way, 

 supplying the library with rich productions of both literature and 

 science. The gradual formation of a valuable librar}^ would result 

 from this system of international exchanges even without direct 

 purchase. 



The programme of organization of the Institution and its execution 

 have met Avith the unqualified support of a very large majority of the 

 scientific and literary men of our country, expressed individually or 

 in the associations of which they are members. This is general 

 throughout the Union, and from no quarter have more decidedly 

 favorable opinions been expressed than from that to which the Regent 

 at whose instance this investigation has been made (Mr. Choate) 

 belongs. The committee must necessarily be brief in its selections 

 from the numerous letters and other communications before it. In 

 speaking of the general considerations proposed by Professor Henry 

 as guides in adopting a plan of organization, a committee of the 

 American Academy of Arts and Sciences, of Boston, say that " they 

 command the entire assent of the committee," and proceed to discuss 

 favorably the various provisions for the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge furnished by the programme. This committee consisted 

 of such scholars as Everett, Sparks, and Longfellow, and such men of 

 science as Peirce and Gray. 



Since the appointment of this committee Professor Peirce, of Har- 

 vard University, has renewed his testimony to the wisdom of the plan 

 of organization and has spoken further in relation to the efficiency of 

 its execution. In a letter addressed to the chairman of this committee 

 he says: 



Of all men none can be more sensible of the value of the great storehouses of the 

 wisdom of past ages than they who are obliged to resort to them in the development 

 of their own researches. The knowledge which has already been given to the world, 

 and which is accumulated in the library, stimulates and invigorates the mind for 

 original thoughts and supplies important materials for investigation; it is to the 

 author what the collection of models in the Patent Office is to the inventor; but, 

 nevertheless, the increase of knowledge depends chiefly upon the native vigor of 

 intellect, and its diffusion is performed by the press. To the strong mind the collec- 

 tions of the Vatican are a golden opportunity, richer than the mineral harvest of 

 California, but not richer than the hills and streams which abound within every 

 man's sight; not richer than the stone beneath our feet,, on which is written the 



