340 REPORT OF NATIONAL MI-SEUM, 1891. 



furnish the means; but this is relying on a very unccM-tain source, and 

 the policy of applying to Congress for any aid is doubtful. 



Having said this nuu'h, it was easy to continue by expressing the 

 •oi)inion that the Regents had beeii in error in supposing it necessary 

 to put up a building for the reception of the great museum of the 

 ■exploring expedition presented by Congress. 



The next year made some change in the views of Prof. Henry. The 

 presence of his new assistant secretary, Prof. Baird, and the eviden(*e 

 of the collection that was now growing up under his own eyes, that 

 museums may be made important agencies for scientihc discovery, had 

 perhaps increasetl his personal interest in such matters. 



And again : 



Tliough theformation of a general collection is neither within theiueans 

 and i)iovince of the Institution, it is an object which ought to engage 

 the attention of Congress, A general nuiseum appears to be a neces- 

 sary establishment at the seat of government of every civilized nation. 

 * * * Indeed, the Government has already formed the nucleus of 

 such a museum in the collection now in the Patent OfHce. 



An establishment of this kind can only be by (lovernment, and the 

 proposition ought never to be encouraged of putting this duty on the 

 limited thongh liberal bequest of a foreigner. 



The Smithsonian Institution will r<'adily take the mental direction 

 nf ail establishment of this kind, giv<' plans for its organization and 

 arrangement, provided it be requested to do so, and the means for 

 effecting the object be liberally supplied.* 



In the report for the year 1852 Prof. Henry definitely stated that the 

 Regents had concluded that it was not advisable to take charge of the 

 great museum of the exploring expedition,! and also expressed the 

 hopeful opinion that "there can be little doubt that in due time ample 

 provision will be made for a library and museum at the capital of this 

 Union worthy of a government where perpetuity depends upon the vir- 

 tue and intelligence of the peoi)le."| 



In the report for the year 1853, presented January 14-March 11, 1851, 

 another step toward the transfer of the museum is chronicled. The 

 Secretary Avrote : 



I have been informed by the Commissioner of Patents that the space 

 now occupied in the building of the Patent Ottice by the National Mu- 

 seum is imperatively required for the display of models; and he sug 

 gests that a part or the whole of the Smithsonian building shall Tje 

 purchased for the deposit of this collection. If Congress will entirely 

 relieve the Smithsonian fund from the expense of collecting and main 

 taining a museum, a large portion of the present building would be uii 

 ] ecessary, and the proposition to purchase a part or the Avhole of it 

 niight be properly entertained. [The Smithsonian Institution, if re- 

 quired, would take the supervision of a Government museum, and would 

 turn over to it all the specimens collected after they had been examined 

 and described. The importance of a collection at the seat of Goveru- 



* (Report for 1851, p. 25.) 



t Sixth Animal Report, p. 253, 



t /.<•., p. 253= ( • 



