THE GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 353 



izetlmau. The collection of implements already within the walls is qnite respect- 

 able, and the expensive series of their portraits from the War Department may well 

 deserve the term of a national monnment. 



Some national depository has long lieen wanted where individuals could place, 

 under the care of Government, any object they may happen to possess, in nature or 

 art, that is rare or instructive, calculated to improve and elevate the mind, or fur- 

 nish materials for new deductions. 



The same observations would apply to a national library. Individuals would 

 hardly think of making donations to the Congressional Library ; neither would for- 

 eign societies. Yet two of the finest libraries of our country — indeed, so far as their 

 sphere extends, I would term them of a higher grade than the rest— have been got 

 together exclusively by donations. I would not by any means be understood to 

 undervalue the Congressional Library, and the very judicious selections that have 

 been made for it of late years. But, shall we always be content with the love of 

 mere England, herself by no means in the first rank in every ))ranch of knowledge? 

 We look in vain in any part of our country for a full assemblage of French, Ger- 

 man, Italian, Swedish, Danish, Spanisii, Portuguese, Oriental, or hardly classical 

 literature. 



I have omitted to mention that the property of the Institute is at present very 

 much exposed to deinedation. From (> to 9 a. m., and also after 5 p. m. the hall 

 is left entirely unguarded and might be entered with the utmost ease. I would pro- 

 pose that a dog-watch be set over the hall and building, as about othcL public edi- 

 fices. 



Respectfully submitted. 



Charles Pickering, 

 Curator of the National Institute. 



Washington, Xoremher 22, 1842. 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



Among the various branches of science which it is the object of the National Insti- 

 tute to encourage, disseminate and exhibit, for the benefit and improvement of man- 

 kind, perhaps none claims its attention so much as botany. By the study of this 

 science we learn the uses of trees, shrubs, aud plants, whether medicinal, nutritious 

 as food, or useful in the arts. The beneficial eftects its study produces on society, 

 or on those who pursue it, by softening down the asperities of our nature, and lead- 

 ing the mind to contemplate objects of a higher order than the mere gratification of 

 ordering amusements — which appears to have been the view taken of it by all civil- 

 ized nations. 



The National Institute through the exiiloring expedition possesses one of the most 

 extensive and varied botanical collections, from the numerous places which the 

 expedition touched at, that is yet known to have been accumulated during any voy- 

 age of similar character. This collection has not yet been arranged or set up accord- 

 ing to any particular system, whereby it can be referred to conveniently, but rests 

 in the Institute in maps. Wherever a set of specimens of the whole is classified and 

 arranged systematically there will still remain a great number of duplicates to dis])ose 

 of to institutions of a similar character, either in exchange or otherwise, as the In- 

 stitute may think tit. 



There is also another point connected with botany to which the scientific world has 

 of late years turned their attention, viz, the geological distribution of plants over the 

 surface of the globe; also the altitude or the heights at which certain tribes appear 

 and disappear. On this point the collection could furnish the best information, as 

 many of the specimens were found at a height of 16,000 feet above the level of the 

 ocean. The herbarium it is proposed to put up in neat bands and arranged in cases 

 after the manner of a library. 



The Institute has also come into possession of a ccdlection of ran; and highly iuter- 

 SMlM,PTL* 23 



