THE GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



By G. Bhown Goodk, 



Assistaitf Scrrelari/ SmUlisoiiiaii TiistitntioH, in chanje of U. <S'. National Mnxenm. 



When, ill 18156, James Siiiitlisou beiiueathed his estate to the United 

 States of America "to t'ouiul at Washiugtoii, under the name of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion 

 of knowledge among men," he placed at the disposal of our nation two 

 valuable collections, one of books and one of minerals. 



In the schedule of Smithson's personal effects, as brought to America 

 in 1838, occurs the following entry: 



Two large boxes, tilled with specimens of minerals and manuscript 

 treatises, apparently in the testator's handwriting, on various philosoph- 

 ical subjects, particularly chemistry and mineralogy; eight cases and 

 one trunk tilled with the like. 



This collection and the books and pamphlets mentioned in the sanu'. 

 schedule formed the beginuings, respectively, of the Smithsoniau library 

 and the Smithsonian museum. The minerals constituted, so far as the 

 writer has been able to learn, the first scientific cabinet owned by the 

 Government of the United States. Their destruction in the Smiths(mian 

 fire of 18(55 was a serious loss. Our only knowledge of their character is 

 derived from the report of a committee of the National Institution, who 

 in 1811 reported upon it as follows:* 



Among the eflects of the late Mr. Smithson is a cabinet which, so far 

 as it has been examined, i>roves to consist of a choice and beautiiul 

 collection of minerals, com])rising probably eight or ten thousand -s])eci- 

 mens. The specimens, though generally small, are extremely perfect, 

 and constitute a very complete geological and mineralogical series, em- 

 bracing the finest varieties of crystallization, rendered more valuable 

 by accompanying figures and descriptions by Mr, Smithson, and in his 

 own writing. The cabinet also contains a valuable suite of meteoric 

 stones, which ap])ear to be suites of most of the important meteorites 

 which have fallen in Europe during several centuries. 



* Proietidiugs of the Niitioual Institution, July, 1841, ii, p. 95. Francis Markoe, 

 jr., Secretary of the National Institute, in a letter written to the American Philo- 

 sophical Society in 1841, described as a part of this cabinet " a superb and very large 

 collection of i>recious stones and exciuisite crystallized minerals * ' * decidedly 

 the richest and rarest collection in the country." 



For a catalo<^no in general terms see Alfr(<l Hunter's "Popular Catalogue of the 

 Extraordinary Curiosities iu the National Institute, etc.," published in 1855, and 

 William J. Rhees's " Account of the Smithsonian Institution, etc.," 1859. 



'>ilfi 

 8:\I. 91, ].t. L' 18 



