THE GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 373 



(2) The resolution under wMcli the committee acted. 



(3) The memorial of the scientific men at their meeting in Washington during last 

 April. 



(4) The memorial of the Institute of March, 1844. 



J. .T. AbeHt. 

 Hon. Mr. WoodbridgE, 



United States Senate, 

 Hon. .7. Q. Adams, 



House of Representatims. 



I. 



MEMORIAL OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, 

 To the honorable, the Senate and House of Representatires of the United States of 



America in Congress assembled: 



The undersigned, a committee appointed for the purpose of preparing a memorial 

 on behalf of the National Institute, to be accompanied by copies of memorials which 

 were presented to your honoral)le body during the last session, beg leave to submit 

 to your consideration the annexed copies of said memorials and to invoke the friendly 

 views of your honorable body, to the prayer therein contained. 



An examination of the character of the by-lawa and of the proceedings of the 

 National Institute will show that among the principal objects of its organization 

 are those of forming, at the seat of the General Government an extensive museum 

 of the natural historj^ of our country in all branches, and affording every possible 

 facility for the development of mind in its devotion to the sciences and the useful 

 arts. But the experience of a few years of our existence has satisfied the Institute 

 that individual means are inadequate to meet the exj)enses involved in the exhibi- 

 tion and preservation of its already extensive and continually increasing collection 

 and for paying the transportation charges of valuable donations daily arriving from' 

 all parts of the world. 



These collections, valuable and extensive as they are, have been obtained com- 

 paratively without cost, and will evidently go without cost to the United States, 

 as by the conditions of our charter the Institute, in reference to all its collections,, 

 is in reality a trustee for the United States. 



Its position and national character have enlisted the most enthusiastic feeling in 

 its favor from the institutions and the enlightened men of all countries, evinced and 

 daily e'sdncing itself, by presents of the most valuable literary works, and by dona- 

 tions of specimens of natural history and the fine arts. It is to preserve and exhibit 

 these and to pay for their transportation, which exceed our ability and for which, 

 on behalf of the National Institute, we solicit the aid of your honorable body on the 

 grounds of our position in the District of Columbia, of the national character of our 

 organization and action, and the consideration that all the x>roperty and collections 

 of the Institute must by our charter eventually become the property and collections 

 of the Government. 



The Institute will readily acquiesce in any restrictions and safeguard with which 

 your honorable body think proper to protect any aid that may be granted, only 

 begging leave to call the attention of your honorable body to the safeguard already 

 established in our charter, which makes the six heads of the principal departments 

 of the Government directors of the ex-officio board of managers of the Institute. 



J. J. Abert, Chairman, 

 I. L. Sullivan, 

 T. Sewall, M. D., 

 M. Thomas, M. D., 

 W. W. Leaton, 

 I. C. Benet, 



Committee, 



January 21, 1845. 



