THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



The Smithsonian Institution is an establishment at "Washington, 

 founded by act of Congress approved August 10, 1846, in accordance 

 Avith a bequest of James Smithson, an Englishman, " for the increase 

 and diffusion of knowledge among men." The act creates, in effect, 

 a museum, a library, a gallery of art, laboratories, lectures, and pro- 

 vides for such other methods as might further the promotion of 

 knowledge, these having later been construed to include publica- 

 tions, explorations, researches on the part of the staff of the Institu- 

 tion, and aids to research by supplying apparatus and making grants 

 to investigators elsewhere. The Smithson bequest, Avith accumulated 

 interest, noAv amounts to $050,000, to which has been added gifts and 

 bequests, notably those of Thomas G. Hodgkins, of $215,918.60, mak- 

 ing the total Smithsonian fund in the United States Treasury at the 

 present time $044,918.69. Upon this fund, and up to $1,000,000, the 

 United States has agreed to pay in perpetuity interest at the rate of 

 6 per cent per annum. Other investments bring the capital of the 

 Institution up to about $1,000,000. All of the operations of the 

 Institution proper must be carried on with the income of this very 

 limited fund. 



The Institution is by law an Establishment composed of the Presi- 

 dent of the Ignited States, the Vice-President, the Chief Justice, and 

 the heads of the Executive Departments. It is governed by a Board 

 of Regents, consisting of the Vice-President and Chief Justice, ex 

 officio, three members of the Senate, appointed by the President of 

 the Senate, three members of the House of Representatives, appointed 

 by the Speaker of the House, and six citizens of the United States, 

 appointed by act of Congress, two of whom are residents of the city of 

 Washington and four of States of the Union, but no two of the same 

 State. The Secretary of the Establishment and of the Board of Re- 

 gents is the Secretary of the Institution and director of its activities. 

 SM 1906 7 97 



