8 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1907. 



and curious research and all objects of natural history, plants, and 

 geological and mineralogical specimens belonging to the United 

 States," thus stamping the Museum at the very outset as one of the 

 widest range and at the same time as the Museum of the United 

 States. It was also fully appreciated that additions would be neces- 

 sary to the collections then in existence, and provision was made for 

 their increase by the exchange of duplicate specimens, by donations 

 and by other means. 



If the wisdom of Congress in so fully providing for a museum in 

 the Smithsonian law challenges attention, the interpretation put 

 upon this law by the Board of Regents within less than six months 

 from the passage of the act can not but command admiration. In the 

 early part of September. 1846, the Regents took steps toward formu- 

 lating a plan of operations. The report of the committee appointed 

 for this purpose, submitted in December and January following, 

 shoAvs a thorough consideration of the subject in both the spirit and 

 the letter of the law. It would seem not out of place to cite here the 

 very first pronouncement of the Board with reference to the char- 

 acter of the Museum : 



" In obedience to the requirements of the charter," which leaves 

 little discretion in regard to the extent of accommodations to be pro- 

 vided, your committee recommend that there be included in the build- 

 ing a museum of liberal size, fitted up to receive the collections 

 destined for the Institution. * :;: :;: 



"As important as (he cabinets of natural history by the charter 

 required to be included in the Museum your committee regard its eth- 

 nological portion, including all collections that may supply items in 

 the physical history of our species, and illustrate the manners, cus- 

 toms, religions, and progressive advance of the various nations of 

 the world; as, for example, collections of skulls, skeletons, portraits, 

 dresses, implements, weapons, idols, antiquities, of the various races 

 of man. * :i: * In this connexion, your committee recommend 

 the passage of resolutions asking the cooperation of certain public 

 functionaries, and of the public generally, in furtherance of the 

 above objects. 



" Your committee are further of opinion that in the Museum, if the 

 funds of the Institution permit, might judiciously be included various 

 series of models illustrating the progress of some of the most useful 

 inventions; such, for example, as the steam engine from its earliest 

 and rudest form to its present most improved slate ; but this they 

 pi'opose only so far as it may not encroach on ground already covered 

 by the numerous models in the Patent Office. 



"Since the Institution was nol chai'tered in a le.u r al sense lint established by 

 Congress, the use of the word "charter" in this connection would seem to be 

 unauthorized. It was not subsequently employed. 



