290 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



specimens of geology and mineralogy and otlier objects of natural his- 

 tory, and, for the sliort period of its existence, the efforts of the Insti- 

 tution have been eminently successful. 



They have entered into correspondence with other learned societies 

 and have been encouraged to proceed by their approbation and profited 

 by their generous coo])eration. They have invited the assistance of 

 their fellow citizens in the most distant States and Territories, and hope, 

 by their aid, to collect documents and facts illustrative of the early 

 history of our country, specimens of its geology and of its mineral and 

 vegetable i^roductions, and, if not to preserve the animals and plants 

 themselves, which are j^assiug away before the progress of settlement 

 and cultivation, at least to i^erpetuate their forms and the memory of 

 their existence. They hope to be able to illustrate these subjects and 

 others connected with them by a series of gratuitous lectures, and en- 

 tertain a confident expectation that numbers whose duties compel 

 them annually to assemble here will view with interest collections of 

 the natural productions of America, drawn from every State and Ter- 

 ritory in the Union, and, becoming sensible of their utility, will con- 

 tribute on their return to swell their amount and to spread throughout 

 the country a taste for literary and scientific pursuits. 



In another place in the discourses of Mr. Poinsett we find avowals 

 of j)lans and ambitious aspirations for the future of the National Mu- 

 seum which would satisfy the most ambitious of its supporters of to- 

 day. He spoke thus : 



Specimens of natural history are rapidly accumulating. The explor- 

 ing expedition has already sent home a large collection, which remains 

 packed away in boxes in a room belonging to the Philadelphia museum, 

 generously loaned by the comi3any for that purpose; and we may antici- 

 pate from the abiUty and well-known zeal of the naturalists who ac- 

 comjianied it by order of Government that the squadron itself, shortly 

 expected, will return richly freighted with objects of natural history. 

 I can not believe that after all the labor, pains, and expense incurred in 

 procuring them these specimens are not to be brought to Washington, 

 to be arranged and exhibited here. A geological survey of the Terri- 

 tory of Iowa was made a few months since by order of the Govern- 

 ment, and numerous valuable specimens collected by Mr. Owen. Mr. 

 Nicolet has brought with him interesting collections made in the coun- 

 try he visited, and Dr. King, of Missouri, lately sent to the lead region 

 on business connected with the ordnance office, while there collected 

 specimens of minerals which are likewise destined for Washington. 

 The ordnance officers who have lately returned from Europe have 

 brought with them numerous specimens of the iron ores used in the 

 foundries there, and measures have been taken to procure, as objects 

 of comparison, those of the United States. 



Several individuals have transmitted donations to the Institution, 

 while ethers have deposited their collections with us from a desire to 

 have them j)reserved and, at the same time, to benefit science. We 

 have reason to believe that this will be extensively done as soon as tlie 

 Institution is firudy established. There are many of our countrymen 

 who, like Sir Hans Sloan, the founder of the British Museum, look 

 forward with regret to the sale and dispersion of their collections, made 

 at great cost and pains, and, desiring to have them preserved entire, 

 would deposit them with an institution which will be as stable as the 

 Government that protects it. 



In every country in Europe those who cultivate the arts and sciences 



