202 PROCEEDINGS OF 



Thus, whether upon the scale of the nation or a SUte, we seem alike inert under 

 these dearest of human obligations. 



It is neither my province nor desire to impute blame any where ; but I state facts 

 that all may be allowed to lament, and that all must desire should cease. 



Active in all ways as a people, even to the charge of overdoing things, shall we 

 become sluggards over what is incomparably the most important of all ? Shall mind 

 be alone neglected ? Shall we continue indifferent to benefits in this great field, as 

 if our Governments desired to keep knowledge out of sight, whilst our people, as 

 individuals, are seen to thirst for it ? 



Let Congress hasten to wipe oft' the suspicion of this reproach. Let it, in the 

 words of the venerable Duponceau, speaking from his retirement, and in the 

 fullness of experience and years, " lay hold of your Institulion and make it its 

 oirn." 



Your ^nachinery, put together by individuals, has been tried, and works well. 

 It wants but little legislation to raise it up to the level of the Smithsonian will. 



A law that would adopt it under the namo stipulated, with the requisite provi- 

 sions for the application of the annual interest of the fund, and the due retention 

 of a visitatorial power by tlic United States, seem the principal enactments that would 

 be called for. 



No expensive corps of officers, no costly salaries, need start into being ; the ex- 

 perience of your Institution showing that there are men among us who love science 

 for its own sake, and who are willing to devote portions of their time to its advance- 

 ment ; and that their exertions can be centralized at Washington, and made to ex- 

 tend over all parts of our country and tho world, through aids that the Government 

 can give. 



For tho buildings, for tho botanic garden, for the chemical laboratory, for the 

 philosophical and astronomical apparatus, for the museums of natural history and 

 receptacles for agricultural and mechanical specimens, for the library and lecture- 

 ships ; for all, in a word, that relates to science, literature, and tho arts, the plan 

 of " The Royal Dublin Society," as seen in Mr. Weld's description, published in 

 your Bulletin, might perhaps be usefully consulted ; though the Garden of Plants 

 at Paris is, indeed, as your public-spirited and distinguished associate, Mr. Poinsett, 

 thought, a model not easily to be surpassed in all that relates to scientific useful- 

 ness, arrangement, and grandeur. 



The fact stated by Mr. Weld, that "Tlie Royal Dublin Society" receives a grant 

 of £5,600 sterling a year from the British Parliament, so far deserves notice as that 

 it is about the amount of tho annual interest of the Smithsonian fund. 



Let, then, this precious fund no longer be idle. Lot it be made to yield, without 

 more delay, those moral blessings for which it was sent to this hemisphere. Let 

 Congress take your Institution as a foundation. In the contrariety of opinion as 

 to any other plan, the much longer postponement, if not entire frustration of tho 

 benign intentions of the donor, is too much to be feared. 



Being yourselves but trustees for diffusing knowledge among your fellow-nien, 

 and seeking nothing selfish, there could bo no objection to your asking Congress to 

 invest you, under its own guards and sanctions, with the fund. By my estimate of 

 duty, you owe it to science and your country to take that step, on tho broadest 

 grounds of utility to both. In your ministration, with the aid of so rich an invest- 



