THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION. 207 



the diflerent colleges in the universities of Europe. I therefore would recommend, 

 that the Smithsonian Institution should be annexed to, and made a part of the na. 

 tional establishment ; dependent on, and subordinate to it, preserving to the national 

 body its superiority and supi-emacy over all its dependencies, and the Smithsonian 

 among others. By this arrangement, the object of the testator will be fully accom. 

 plished. His will requires only an institution for the "increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men," and that it should bear his name. By the plan which I 

 take the liberty to suggest, the terms of the legacy will be fully complied with. 



I have seen with great pleasure the bill brought into the Senate by the Hon. 

 Mr. Preston. It fully coincides with the views that I have expressed. It may per- 

 haps receive some modifications in the details, but, keeping the main design in view, 

 they can easily suggest themselves. The object, in my opinion, is, to preserve the 

 superiority of the National Institution over the Smithsonian, and that of the Go. 

 vernment over both. Mr. Preston's plan appears to me well calculated to accom- 

 plish these purposes. 



I would beg leave to suggest, whether it would not be advisable to make some 

 small alteration in the name of the National Institution, so that it should not bear 

 exactly the same name with the Smithsonian, but one expressive of some degree of 

 superiority-. I would recommend, for instance, that of Institute, which appears to 

 me more dignified than that of Institution, which is equally applicable to a school 

 or college as to a great national establishment for the promotion of science. If any 

 other, or a better name can be suggested, it will answer the same purpose. My 

 idea would be to call the national establishment the " National Institute for the 

 Promotion of Science," and the subordinate one the " Smithsonian Institution," 

 without more. But this is, after all, but matters of secondary consideration. 



The more I consider Mr. Preston's bill, the more I find it difficult to amend it. 

 Therefore I shall not undertake it. If the passage of that bill can be obtained, the 

 cause of science shall have gained an immense advantage, and due honor shall have 

 been paid to the memory of the benevolent testator. 



I have already observed, that the Smithsonian fund — half a million of dollars — 

 was inadequate to the objects contemplated by either of the two institutions that 

 I propose to bo joined. When I consider that two millions of dollars were be- 

 queathed by Mr. Girard to the city of Philadelphia, with a larger fund to be recur, 

 red to in case of need, merely for the erection and endowment of a college, and 

 that this immense legacy has produced nothing in the course of ten years but the 

 bare walls of an unfinished palace, I must acknowledge that I tremble at the pos. 

 sible consequences of the go-ahead system, which, notwithstanding the severe les. 

 sons that we have received, still prevails too much among us. Rome, as the pro- 

 verb says, was not built in a day. We have centuries before us, and the present 

 generation must not expect to enjoy all what is promised to the country by the foun. 

 (iation of the National Institution, with the addition of the Smithsonian legacy. 

 Wc must work for posterity. I rejoice tliat the stocks in which the capital of that 

 legacy has been invested by Congress, are not susceptible of a ready sale. I hope 

 that for a long time, the interest alone, and if possible only a part of it, will be 

 eini>loyed for scientific purposes ; that in tho erection of buildings, the embcllisli. 

 nicnt of the city will not be attended to, but their usefulness alone contemplated ; 

 and that the strictest economy will prevail in the application of the means. Dc- 



