THE GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. B27 



liiiaiij^ absorbed tlie euerj^ies and the limited iucoine of the National 

 lustitute. 



It had eviileiitly beipii the belief of it,s chief promoters that if a mll- 

 seiim under the patronage of the Goverhment and under the control of 

 their society could be tirmlj' established ill Washington, all the other 

 ends sought by them would follow in necessary sequence. 



In accordance with this policy circulars had been sent out to the 

 ofticers of the Army at distant i>orts asking their aid and pointing out 

 the manner in which tliey might be useful in carrying" out the objects 

 of the Institution, " and others to the governors of States and to the dip- 

 lomatic and consuhir rei)resentatives of the United States in foreign 

 countries, announcing that they had been made corresponding mem- 

 bers, and inviting their aid in the promotion of the objects of the In- 

 stitution," and to each member of Congress, with a request that he 

 bring specimens of the natural productions of his district on his return 

 to Washington.* 



\Vashington, February 9, 1S41. 



Sir: The Natiouul Institutiou for 'ih<? Promotion of Science and. the Useful Arts, 

 estahlished. at the seat of government, is desirous of procuring specimens of the 

 natural productions of every portion of the United States, and for that jjurpose re- 

 spectfully asks your aid and cooperation. The district you represent doubtless pos- 

 sesses many important minerals and vegetable productions, which might prove of 

 great value to the arts if they were generaJly made known. Specimens of such pro- 

 ductions being brought to \Vashiugton will not only advance the objects of the 

 institution, but will prove advantageous to the country whence they come. They 

 will be described by the scientific members of the institution, and their uses and 

 advantages pointed out, and the specimens exhibited to the public in its museum. 



You are re.spectfully requested to bring with you, on your return, such specimens 

 as you may collect during the ensuing recess. Even a single specimen from each 

 member will be of gre<^t advantage to the Institution, and be thankfully received 

 as a tribute to science. 



We have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servants, 



J. R. POIXSETT, 

 J. K. Paulding, 



Directors. 

 To the Hon. . 



The assumption by a society of the important duty of organizing 

 and conducting a national mu.seum would seem at tlie ])resent time 

 somewhat strange, but it slioidd be remembered that from the begin- 

 ning it was announced tliat all the collections made were tlie property 

 of the General Government, and that in tlie incori>oiation of the society 

 l)y Congress all tlie proi)erty of the corporation at the time of the ex- 

 l)iration of its charter, limited to twenty years, should belong to and 

 devolve upon the United States. Still more important a factor in the 

 intlnence of the society was the character of its membership, which in- 

 cluded most of the leading men in political, scientific, and literary cir- 

 cles, and had upon its list of ofticers and directors such names as that 

 of John Tyler, President of the United States, and his Cabinet, an ex- 



[* Circular letter to members of Congress.] 



