284 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



ill good faith to be adopted as being' most in accordaiu'e with the true 

 intent and meaning ot the testator. 



3. Resolved, Tliat all experience having shown scieutitic and literary 

 institutions to be by far the most effectual means to the end of increas- 

 ing and diffusing knowledge among men, tlie Smithsonian Institution 

 siiould be a. scieutitic and literary institution, formed upon a model the 

 best calculated to make those means the most etfectual to that end. 



4. Resolved, That to apply said trust fund to the erection and support 

 of an observatory would not be to fulfill bona tide the intention of the 

 testator, nor would it comport with the dignity of the United States to 

 owe such an establishment to foreign eleemosynary means. 



Neither of the bills was received with favor, and the Twenty-fifth 

 Congress came to an end without any decisiou having beeu reached. 

 Senator Bobbins retired from x^ublic life at this time, and the university 

 idea was not subsequently brought promptly forward. Duriug this 

 session, however, various ])etitions were received. One was from Prof. 

 Walter R. Jolinson, urging the foundation, advocating the claims of 

 '' an institution for researches in practical science."* 



Another was from Charles Lewis Fleisclimann, of the United States 

 Patent Office, proposing the establishment of an institution for the 

 promoti<m of agriculture, with experimental farms of 1360 acres, manu 

 factories, mills and workshops, a ccmsiderable staff of teachers and in- 

 structors, and one hundred students at the commencement, t 



The Kentucky State Agricultural Society petitioned for the endow- 

 ment of an agricultural school or college out of the legacy, and the 

 Superintendent of the Coast Survey, Mr. Hassler, was urging the founda- 

 tion of an astronomical school. 



In the meantime public interest was becoming awakened. The mat- 

 ter was agitated in the newspapers and reviews, petitions were coming- 

 in from individuals, urging speedy action, and the corporation of the 

 city of Washington, through their mayor, refer For(;e, presented a 

 vigorously worded memorial to Congress.f 



Early in the first session of the Twenty-sixth Congress, 1839-41, Mr. 

 Adams again brought up the Smithson bequest, introducing again his 

 bill for the establishment of a national observatory and reenforcing it 

 by his famous report of 1840§ and a speech of considerable length, supple- 

 mented by an elaborate statement from the astronomer royal of Great 

 Britain concerning the observatories at Greenwich and elsewhere. 



Mr. Adams seems to have been alone in his advocacy of the observa- 

 tory and his bill and report produced no results. 



* Presented to the House of Representatives May 21, 1838.— See Rhees. Documents, 

 pp. 171-186. 



1 Reported to the House, of Kopreseiitatives January 9, 1839. — See Rhees's Docu- 

 uieuts, etc., pp. 186-198. 



\ Rhees's Documents, etc., i)p, 200, 201. 



vS First session, House of Rejiresentatives Report No. 277. Smithson bequest. (To 

 accompany amendatory bill H. R. No. 1). May 5, 1840. Washinjiton: Blair & Ross, 

 printers. 8vo., pp. 155. 



