THE GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 301 



aud in all these classes, except the fourth, made plans for the collection 

 of museum material. Ethnography was grouped by Mr. Poinsett with 

 geography, with Avhich he states that it is "intimately connected, and 

 indeed forming a part of it until it was lately erected into a separate 

 science." 



It is worthy of remark that the term " manager," * to desig- 

 nate a member of the governing board, was employed in every bill, ex- 

 cept in the substitute which was proposed only a few hours before the 

 linal action, and that when the election of the tirst Secretary was held 

 Francis Markoe, Jr., who had been for six years Secretary of the Na- 

 tional Institution and was more than any one else perhaps identified 

 with its interests, received four votes against seven cast for Prof. Henry. 

 Dr. Charles Pickering, the Curator of the National Institution, also 

 received one vote. 



The term '' curator," as applied to an officer in charge of the national 

 collections, then came into use for the first time. 



THE NATIONAL OABINET OF CURIOSITIES. 



The formation of a "national museum" was one of the professed ob- 

 jects of Poinsett and his associates in the National Institution, but it 

 does not appear that they ever dignified with that name their collec- 

 tions, which were usually modestly referred to as constituting the 

 " cabinet" t of the Institution, both in the constitution aiul in the 

 proceedings of the society. 



In the Hough bill for the organization of the Smithsojiian Institu- 

 tion in 1846, the colle(ition in the Patent Office was officially designated as 

 the National Cabinet of Curiosities, a name which though never in general 

 use is very appropriate aud convenient for use in designating the as- 



* The term regreni was undoubtedly suggested by the organization of the Univer- 

 sity of the State of New York, a term peculiar to Mr. Hough, the mover of the sub- 

 stitute, who was a representative from that State and who in all probability had 

 been one of the l)oard of regents of that University. 



The Hon. W. J. Hough was the first Secretary of the Institution. Having been 

 elected to that office September 7, 1846, he served until the election of Prof. Henry 

 on December 3. Mr. B. B. French was elected assistant secretary, and appears to 

 have served until the election of C. C. Jewett, and at a meeting of the board in 

 December submitted a report for the Secretary. 



t In 1790 a law was passed by Congress "to promote the progress of science and the 

 useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right 

 to their respective writings and discoveries." [Sec. viii, par. viii.] 



In this was gathered a collection of models, which was sometimes by courtesy 

 called ''The American Museum of Arts," but which had no title to the name either 

 by law or by courtesy. This was destroyed by tire December 15, 1836. 



In "An act to promote the progress of the useful arts, etc.," approved July 4, 1836, 

 provision was ma<le for the preservation and display, under the charge of the Com- 

 missioner of Fateuts, not only of models, but of "specimens of compositions and 

 of fabrics and other manufactures and works of art." [Sec. xx.] 



