THE GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 337 



The corner stoue wan laid May 1, 1847, but tlic work was in progress 

 until 1855. 



The delay was evidently intentional, for in 1848 Prof. Henry, in an 

 exposition of JSmitlison's bequest before the New Jersey Historical 

 Society, spoke as follows: 



He regretted that in order to make provision foi- the accommodation 

 of the museum of the exploring expedition, as directed by act of Con- 

 gress, so large an amount of money was required for the erection of the 

 buildings. The evil, however, wliich would result from this is in a. 

 measure obviated by the plan jnoposed by Prof, Bache, and adopted 

 by the Eegents, viz, that of deferring the time of comi)leting the build- 

 ing, so that it might be erected in considerable i)art by means of the 

 interest of $-J4(>,((0(>, which had accrued in interest on the original fund 

 previous to the year 1840.* 



As early as 1847 Prof. Henry seems to have entertained the hope of 

 escape from the full accei)tance of the terms of the charter, for in his 

 lirst plans, as finally submitted to the regents, he ex[)ressed the hope 

 " that in due time other means may be found of establishing and sup 

 porting a general collection of objects of nature and art at the seat of 

 the (leneral (ro\ernment with funds not derived from the Smithsonian 

 be<|uest."t 



In the rejfort for the year 1849, presented in 1850, Prof. Henry gave 

 llic result of his later observations and reflections, and foi' the first 

 time took his stand in opposition to the transfer, advancing tlic thcoiy 

 tliat it was not obligatory on the regents to take cliaigc of the (lovern- 

 ment colle<'tions. lie wrote: 



This hnv evidently gives to the Smithsonian Institution the nuiscnm 

 in the Patent ()lti{;(\ tlte conservatory of plants, and all sjx'cimens ol' 

 nafure and art to be fonndin tlie several otiices and dei)artments ofthc 

 (b)vernment. Tlic act. however can not be const) ued as rendciing it, 

 obligatory on the regents to tr e charge of these articles, if, in their 

 opinion, it is not for the bes. interests of the Institution tliat they 

 should do so. Though one of the reasons urged upon the regents for 

 immediate erection of so large a building was the necessity of ])ro\id- 

 ing accommodation for this ninseuni, 1 have been, from the tirst, of the 

 oi)inion that it was inexiu'dient to acce])t it. 



This museum was collected at the ex])ense of the (loveinment, ami 

 should be preser\ed as a memento of the science and energy of onr 

 Xa\y, and as a. means of illustrating and \erifying the niagniiicent \()1- 

 nnies which comprise the liistory of that exi»t'<lition. If the regents 

 accept (his museum it must be merged in the Smithsonian collections. 

 It could not be the intention of Congress that an institntion founded by 

 the libeiality of a foreigner, and to which he has atlixed his own name, 

 should be charged with the keeping of a separate museum, the ])rop- 

 erty of (he United States. Besides this, the extensive museum of the 

 Patent Otlice would immediately till the space allotted fm- collections 

 of (his kind in (he Smithsonian edifice, and in a short time another aj)- 

 pi()])riation would be required for the erection of another building. 



* Heury, Smithsou, Bequest, p. 8. 



t Eeport for 1847, p. 184; Report lor 1848, p. 33; Rhees Documeuts, p. 958. 

 SM 91, PT 2 23 



