THE GENESIS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 377 



of incorporation. In effecting the designs of their association, they have estalilished 

 an extensive correspondence with influential and useful men — men of experience, of 

 letters, and of distinguished scientific attainments, not only throughout the Union, 

 but throughout the world. In every part of Europe and of the American continent, 

 in Asia, and in Africa, we find generous and enthusiastic friends and corresponding 

 members. Foreign Governments have evinced their interest by valuable contribu- 

 tions, and many of the most distinguished institutions and societies abroad are cor- 

 respondents and contributors. An aggregate amount of munificence, zeal, learning, 

 and adventitious advantage is thus possessed by the Institute, which has already 

 yielded substantial results, and holds out assurances of the richest fruits. In further 

 illustration of the advantages which are here imperfectly sketched, Ave snbmit for 

 the examination of your honorable bodies a communication lately received from 

 Paris, with accompanying documents and transactions, exhibiting, in a remarkable 

 manner and degree, evidences of interest and good will towards Congress, towards 

 the States, and towards the Institute on the part of the Government and people of 

 France. 



Through this widespread instrumentality the Institute has labored to form an 

 extensive library and museum, or collection of objects of natural history, a reper- 

 torium of facts and contributions to science, documents illustrating history in gen- 

 eral, but in an emphatic manner that of our own continent, and specimens of the 

 fine arts, of mechanic ingenuity, valuable productions of the vegetable kingdom, 

 and materials illustrating the moral and social condition of nations generally, but 

 in a more especial manner of our own. Fi'om every quarter of the globe valuable 

 and various contributions have been transmitted to us. The gallant officers of our 

 Army and NaA-y, the diplomatic and consular representatives of the Government 

 abroad, the men of learning and science every where have entered with the most 

 praiseworthy zeal in the cause, and vied with each other in the number and value of 

 their contributions. 



The collection thus made is not designed for, or appropriated to, the exclusive use 

 of the Institute, or of any particular class of individuals. It is opened gratuitously 

 and daily to the inspection and for the benefit of all. Without cost, the student of 

 natural history may here find ample means of improvement in that department of 

 science to which his attention has been directed ; without cost, the geologist and 

 mineralogist are fui-uished with abundant materials for prosecuting their researches; 

 the curious may indulge their predilections, while the man of science is enabled to 

 peruse the valuable contributions from learned societies and individuals throughout 

 the world. 



In addition to these meterials, thus accumulated by the labors of the Institute it- 

 self, the convenience of the Government has made it the depository and guardian of 

 numerous articles of its own jiroperty, which are thus exhibited to the public eye 

 without trouble to the ordinary officers in the various departments, and without the 

 consequent abstraction of their time from more peculiar and ajipropriate duties. 

 The interestiug collections of Indian portraits and curiosities formerly dei^osited in 

 the War Department ; the objects of curiosity, and various donations to the Govern- 

 ment or to distinguished citizens from foreign countries, once in the State Depart- 

 ment, are here shown to the public in connection with much other public property. 



The articles arising from these, and from various other sources vphich it would be 

 tedious to enumerate, already in the custody of the Institute, are of great Aalue, 

 and they are increasing with rapidity, and accumulating to an indefinite extent. 



The real owners of these treasures are the Government and the nation. The indi. 

 vidual members of the Institute contemplated no interest oT property in them, beside 

 their trust for the public, beyond what is enjoyed by every citizen in the land, or, 

 indeed, every stranger who may feel disposed to use them as a means of indulging a 

 liberal curiosity, or gratifying his love of science. Such of the articles as at any 

 time belonged to the Government remain its absolute and exclusive property. They 



