298 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



ill, some urging tiction, aiul asking for the establishment of prizes for 

 scientilic essays, another foithe estahlishment of an agricultural school 

 and farm in the District of Cohunhia. The National Institution had 

 perhaps fallen somewhat into disfavor with Congress — or, it may be, 

 had become so prominent as to awaken feelings of opposition. 



The Twenty-eighth Congress (1843-'45) brought their deliberations 

 more nearly to an issue. 



The astronomical observatory bill (H. K. 418, Twenty -eighth Con- 

 gress) was again presented by Mr. Adams, but not acted upon. In the 

 Senate, both in the first and second sessions, a bill for the Smithsonian 

 Institution was reported, June C, 1844, by the Committee on the Li- 

 brary, through Senator Tappan, which, before it was finally brought 

 to a vote, was ])rought into a form somewhat resembling that which 

 finally was adopted. It provided, however, for the appointment of 

 various professors and lecturers for a school of agriculture and mechani- 

 cal arts, as well as for experimental gardens, a library of science and 

 economics, and a museum, 



The nniseum clause of this bill was much the same as that finally 

 agreed to, and contained a provision that the natural history objects, 

 and geological and mineralogical specimens belonging to the United 

 States, '^in wiiosoever custody the same may be," should be transferred 

 to the custody of the board of managers of the Smithsonian Institution. 



This was evidently worded with the purpose of withdrawing from the 

 possession of the National Institution the various collections, including 

 those which had belonged to Smitlison, which had fallen into the hands 

 of that society between 1840 and 1845. Indeed, the national institntion 

 seems to have already become the object of some distrust and preju- 

 dice. A proposition that two of the seven "managers" not ex-ofticio 

 members of the board should be selected from the membership of the 

 national institution caused a vigorous debate in the Senate, in the 

 cfmrse of which at least two Senators objected strongly to j^lacing the 

 administration of the Smithsonian Institution, even to so slight a 

 degree as this, in the hands of a private corporation. 



The act finally passed the Senate, but was not acted on l)y the House. 



In connection with Mr. Tappau's bill, in January, 1845, Senator 

 Choate, of Massachusetts, first appeared in advocacy of the establish- 

 ment of a great library, and delivered his famous oration upon the 

 influence of books. The amendment at that time proposed, together 

 with the amendments urged by Mr. (Jeorge P. Marsh, in connection 

 with the Owen-Hough bill, brought forward in the following session, 

 had a great influence upon the final adjustment of the plan of adminis- 

 tration.* 



To the Twenty-ninth Congress (1845-'47) belongs the honor of finally 

 formulating the act of incorporation by whicli the Smithsonian iDsti- 

 tution was established. 



" See report of Hon. James Meacham, 1854, pp. 10-12. 



