384 PROCEEDINGS OF [1845. 



The National Institute is composed of private individuals, with no other bond of 

 connection than their common labors as trustees of certain property for the public 

 and the Government — a common feeling of interest in promoting scientific and 

 useful information, and llie bond of union bestowed upon tliem by Congress in their 

 charter of incorporation. In effecting the designs of tlieir association, they have 

 established an extensive correspondence with influential and useful men, men of 

 experience, of letters, and of distinguished scientific attainments, not only through- 

 out the Union, but throughout the world. In every part of Europe, and of tha 

 American continent, in Asia, and in Africa, uo find generous and enlliusiastic 

 friends and corresponding members; foreign Governments have evinced their in- 

 terest by valuable contributions, and many of the most distinguislied Institutions 

 and Societies abroad are correspondents and contributors. An aggregate amount 

 of munificence, zeal, learning, and adventitious advantage is liius 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 imper- 

 fectly sketched, wo submit for the examination of your honorahlu bodies, a com- 

 munication lately received from Paris, with accompanying documents and transac- 

 tions, 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 wide-spread 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 

 general, but in an erapliatic manner that of our own continent, and specimens of 

 the fine arts, of mechanic ingenuity, valuable productions of the vegetable king- 

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

 but, in a more especial manner, of our own. From every quarter of the globe 

 valuable and various contributions have been transmitted to us. The gallant offi- 

 cers of our army and navy ; the diplomatic and consular representatives of the Go- 

 vernment abroad, tho 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 gra- 

 tuitously 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 furnished with abundant materials for prosecuting 

 their researches ; tho curious may indulge their predilections, while tho man of 

 science is enabled to peruse the valuabla contributions from learned societies and 

 individuals throughout the world. 



In addition to these materials, thus accumulated by the labors of the Institute 

 itself, the convenience of the Government has made it tho depository and guardian 

 of jiumerous articles of its own property, which are thus exhibited to the public 

 eye without trouble to the ordinary ofiicers in the various Departments, and with- 

 out the consequent abstraction of their time from more peculiar and appropriate 

 duties. The interesting collections of Indian portraits and curiosities formerly 

 deposited in the War Department; the objects of curiosity, and various donations 

 to the Government or to distinguished citizens from foreign countries, once in the 

 State Department, are here shown to the public iu connection with much other pub- 

 lie property. 



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

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

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



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

 individual members of the Institute cuntcmplatcd no interest or properly in them, 

 beside tlieir trust for the public, beyond wint is enjoyed by every citizen in tho 

 land, or indeed e\-cry stranger who may feel disposed to upo them ns a means of 

 indulging a liberal cunotity, or gratifying his love of science. Such of tho articles 

 na at any time belonged to tho Govornuiunl, remain its absolute and exclusive pro- 

 perty. They are simply entrusted to the Institute for s;ife-keeping and public cxhi. 

 bition, and may be withdrawn whenever it shall suit tho wishes of tho o^vners lo 

 dispoae of thom in any other manner. Tho donations by individuals and public 



