THE GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 295 



Adams, wlio presided; vSeiiator Levi Woodbury, late Secretary of tLe 

 Treasury, who agreed to represent the meeting in Congress; tLe Hon. 

 J. R. Ingersoll, who acted as secretary, and who Avrote out in his pre- 

 amble to the minutes of the meeting a forcible statement of the needs 

 of the society; the Hon. C. J. Ingersoll, Senator R. J. Walker, besides 

 Col. Peter Force, Col. Albert, Col. Totten, Lieut. Maury, and the offi- 

 cers of the society. 



The issue of this meeting was the decision ''to memorialize Congress; 

 on the subject of the condition and wants of the Institute." 



The memorial was presented in due course of time, and in June, 1844, 

 Senator Choate i^resented a report upon the character and uses of the 

 institute, recommending that its property should be vested in the United 

 States and an appropriation made for its benefit. 



I have not been able to find a copy of this memorial, but since it was 

 evidently prepared by Mr. J. R. Ingersoll* it is safe to assume that the 

 grounds for asking aid were essentially those named in his "preamble" 

 read to the society December 28, 1843.t 



In the meantime, on the occasion of the first ;innual meeting of the 

 National Institute (under its new name and in its capacity as a cor- 

 poration) in April, 1844, the meeting of the friends of science, includ- 

 ing, besides all the mem])ers and patrons of the National Institute, the 

 members of the American Philosophical Society and of the "Associa- 

 tion of American Geologists and Naturalists " (the predecessor of the 

 American Association for the Advancement of Science), had been held 

 in Washington. The occasion was a brilliantly successful one. The 

 President of the United States presided at the first meeting and some 

 prominent public men at each of the others. 



The National Institute received its full share of encomium. Presi- 

 dent Tyler lauded it highly, held out the hope that the Government 

 would " continue to it a fostering care," and expressed in a general way 

 the hope that it should be identified with the future National Museum 

 and the future Smithsonian Instituticni. 



" Where can the Government find," said he, '' a safer depository for 

 the fruits of its expeditions, fitted out to explore distant and unknown 

 regions, than the National Institute? AVhat can it better do for the 

 ' increase and diffusion of knowledge among men ' than by patronizing 

 and sustaining this magnificent undertaking!?" 



Senator Walker, of Mississippi, one of the directors of the institute, 

 delivered a very appreciative introductory address on the present con- 

 dition and history of American science, ending with an appeal to scien- 

 tific men to come forward and unite with the people in sustaining and 

 advancing the National Institute. 



* At the meeting of May, 1844, the Hon. Josopli R. IngersoH offered remarks npon 

 the pecuniary embarrassments of the Institute, and exjjressed a hope that Congress 

 would furnish tlie rec^uired aid. Proc. Nat. Inst., i, p. 359. 



tProc. Nut. Inst.; I, p. 332. 



