THE GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 369 



head of a bureau, the other a clerk iu one of the public offices, who ask as a matter 

 of right, tliat they should have the supervision of a very important literary and 

 scientific work, the pul)lication of which Congress has thought proper to entrust to 

 one of its regular connnittees. " 



We must deny that any such case is presented, or that it can be inferred from our 

 "remarks." Our " remarks " on this subject were as follows : " We desire it to be dis- 

 tinctly understood that our reasoning has no reference to the publication of the re- 

 sults of the voyage, but is limited solely to the preservation, arrangement, and exhibi- 

 tion of the collections. We think, however, that the Institute might be able to give 

 acceptable opinions even in reference to the publication, its form, and style of exe- 

 cutiou. But as there is an anxiety to possess this power by others, and as it is already 

 placed elswhere, we do not seek to interfere with it, not doubting that in all its parts 

 it will equal similar publications of other governments, and justify the anticipations 

 that are now entertained of it by the learned world. " 



You are well aware that there are appropriations of two distinct characters iu re- 

 spect to the exploring squadron, and the publication of its results (the Hon. Mr. 

 Tappan does not appear to be aware of this, in our judgement, to have kept this dis- 

 tinction in his mind) : one for the publication of the history of the voyage, the nar- 

 rative and scientific descriptions ; the other for the preparation, preservation, and 

 exhibition of the collections. It is the latter one that we have ever manifasted a de- 

 sire to see placed under control of the Institute, which it appears? to us is a most 

 suitable agent for such purposes, and the more particularly as these collections had 

 been placed by the Executive under its care. 



The other allegation against us by Mr. Tappan is, iu our opinion, equally incor- 

 rect. He says: "But the great point with Messrs. Abert and Markoe seems to lie to 

 get hold of the appropriations made by Congress to enable the committee to execute 

 the law." 



The law to which Mr. Tappan refers relates to the publication of the proceedings 

 of the expedition ; the remarks nuide by us relate to a system for the preservation 

 and exhibition of the collections. 



Our remarks on this head were, "that the Institute should be the organ of the 

 Government in the arrangement and preservation of its collections, and in the su- 

 pervision of the appropriations which the Government may make for those pur- 

 poses." We speak of the Institute, of which we are merely members, and of the 

 '' Board of Management," of which we are but two out of seventeen. To this 

 " Board of Management " we think the power appropriately belongs, and in its hands 

 we hope yet to see placed the management of whatever relates to the arrangement, 

 preservation, and exhibition of the collections. It is clear to us that no lietter 

 arrangement could be made with the superintendence of the publication and in the 

 appropriation which belongs to it (duties assigned to the Exp'l. Exp'm Committee by 

 law) we have not expressed a desire to interfere, and forbear, as we have forborne, 

 to make any remarks upon them — except to express the hope that the wishes and 

 opinions of the naturalists themselves will be consulted and their opinions be al- 

 lowed a iiroper Aveight. 



Our " remarks " in continuation of the above quotation were: " The organization 

 of the Institute renders it peculiarly deserving of the confidence of the Government, 

 as it can offer as an agent for Government property and Government expenditures a 

 board of its own officers." 



"The officers of the Institute consist of a president, vice-president, two secre- 

 taries, one treasurer, and twelve directors— six of these twelve directors are the 

 heads of the Government Departments, namely, the Secretary of State, the Secretary 

 of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, tlie Attorney- 

 General, and the Postmaster-General. These are directors, ex officio, and constitute 

 the Departments through which all Government expenditures are made. Six others 

 are elected by the Institute, from amongst its members. These six at present are 



HM 91, PT 2 24 



