THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION. 205 



teinplated by the testator than an establishment intended for the education of youth ; 

 and the second, that the legacy itself, tliough liberal, was not adequate to the esta- 

 bUshment of an institution that would require large buildings and other expenditures 

 that usually attend establishments based upon a large foundation. As Congress 

 did not act upon that report, we may well presume that its opinion coincided with 

 that of the committee. 



As things stood at that time, it was very difficult to come to a conclusion upon 

 tliis very important subject. Mr. Adams, no doubt considering the inadequacy of 

 the fund to an establishment that would embrace all the sciences, proposed that its 

 application should be confined to the promotion of the most important of all sciences, 

 astronomy, and that it should be employed in the erection and maintenance of an 

 observatory, and generally for astronomical purposes. This was, as far as I can 

 judge, the best plan that could be proposed under the then existing circumstances ; 

 nevertheless, it was not thought to answer the views of the testator, and therefore it 

 was not carried into execution. 



When we consider, attentively, the words by which Mr. Smithson has expressed 

 the object of his legacy, we cannot but be convinced that his views were more ex- 

 tensive than the foundation of an establishment for the promotion of particular 

 objects of science, and tliat he contemplated an institution that would embrace the 

 whole circle of human knowledge. His object is stated by himself to be " the in. 

 crease and diffusion of knowledge among men." It is knowledge in general that 

 he contemplates, and its diffusion amongst all mankind. This idea was thrown 

 out by a few individuals at home and abroad, but does not appear to have attracted 

 much attention. 



While, in consequence of the variety of opinions which existed upon this sub- 

 ject, no measure was taken to carry tlie testator's will into execution, there arose, 

 at the city of Washington, by the combined efforts of the Government and of pub- 

 licspirited individuals, an institution truly national, having for its object the pro. 

 motion of science. When that institution was first established, I addressed to you 

 a letter in November, 1840, which the institution has done me the honor to insert 

 in its first bulletin, in which I suggested the idea of applying the Smithsonian fund 

 to that institution. I find, from Mr. Rush's letter, which you have communicated 

 to me, that I was not the only one to whom that suggestion occurred. Since that 

 time, it appears to have struck the mind of many of the most respectable friends 

 of science, and it appears to have agreed with the opinion expressed by your distin. 

 guished President, Mr. Poinsett, in his inaugural address. I see, with pleasure, that 

 Mr. Rush entertains the same opinion. No one has had a better opportunity to 

 know the real intentions of the testator ; and his opinion, on that and many other 

 accounts, is entitled to the greatest respect. 



Indeed I do not see how two institutions, having a similar object in view, can 

 exist, at present at least, both with limited means, at the city of Washington, at 

 the same time ; and if it could be, the similarity of their pursuits might create jea. 

 lousy, which would be productive of very disagreeable consequences. The National 

 Institution, founded in a manner and patronized by the Government, would with 

 justice claim the superiority over a rival establishment, which had no such grounds 

 to support it. The national honor would suffer by such a contact, and in the 

 capital of a great nation it could not be tolerated that the foundation of an indivi- 



