274 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



This report was made in July, 1841, at the time when, by order of 

 the Secietary of tlie United States Treasury, the minerals, books, 

 manuscripts, and other articles forming part of the Smithson bequest, 

 were deposited in the custody of the National Institution, where they 

 remained until 1858. 



A room had been planned for their reception in tlic Smithsonian cdi- 

 fi; e, which \7as to be made fireproof,* but if this was ever constructed 

 it was not occupied, and the collections liaving been dis^dayed for some 

 years in the Regents' room, were destroyed by fire January U4, 1865. 



The National Institution was for nearly eighteen years the official 

 custodian of these and other nniseum materials belonging to tlie nation. 

 This organization, ten years before the Smithsonian Institution was 

 prepared to receive any collections whatever, fourteen years before its 

 buildings were ready for the exiiibition of museum objects, and in 

 after years, until its charter expired by limitation in 1802, held many 

 objects whose ])roper i)lace was in the National Museum. Indeed, 

 the retention of many historical objects in the Patent Office hall until 

 1883, was an evidence of a lingering uncertainty as to the proper loca- 

 tion of responsibility for the care of the national collections. • 



In order to understand the genesis of the National Museum of the 

 United States it seems necessary to examine the history of this society, 

 at one time so enterprising and influential. 



The National Institution for the Promotion of Science, organized in 

 Washington .May 15, 1840, was for some years the most i)romiiient ex- 

 jionent of the idea of a national museum. t The establishment of this 

 society was doubtless to a very great degree due to the stimulating and 

 inspiring effects upon public opinion of the Smithson bequest. The 

 germs of the idea which it represented seem, however, to have been 

 existing in Washington at a much earlier period, far in 1816, or before, 

 a similar society had been organized in the capital under the name of 

 The Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences.^ 



The Columbian Institute received on May 20, 1818, a charter from Con- 

 gress which expired in 1838, after which its members "were invited to 

 become members of the National Institution, and to deposit in its cabi- 

 net their eflects, books, and i)ax)ers." § 



* Report of the building committee to December 1, 1847, in Report of the Board 

 of Regents, Jiinnarj^ 6, 1848, Thirtieth Congress, first session. Mis. Doc. 23, p. 8. 



t The National Institution was organized at the seat of government on tlie 15th of 

 May, 1840, by the adoption of a constitution and tlie declaration of the objects of 

 the institution, wliich ;ire (o promote science and the useful arts, aiding to establish 

 a national museum of natural history, etc." Bulletin of the Proceedings of the Na- 

 tional Institute, 1840, i, i». 3 (introduction). 



t Before 1816 an organization known as "The Metropolitan .Society " was in exist- 

 ence m Washington, and the Columbian Institute was an ontgrowth of it or re- 

 placed it. The United States Military Philosophical Society nfet in Washington 

 and New York as early as 1805. 



§ Proceedings of the National InstiLntion, July 12, 1841, \ Ol. 1, p. 94. 



