THE APRIL MEETING, 1844. 423 



to give to it a particular direction, or even to enumerate the associations, public 

 bodies, or classes of individuals, that are embraced within its scope. The Institute 

 is established at the seat of the General Government. It is chartered by the Legis- 

 lature of the United States. Some of its officers derive their situation, as such, only 

 from their official relations to the Government. It looks for essential and perma- 

 nent support to the constituted authorities of the nation. Yet, thus connected with 

 the Federal Government and emanating from its will, the society is in all respects 

 the least exclusive that ever v/as formed. It embraces in its comprehensive plan, 

 all who are, or who are disposed to be, the promoters of science, literature, or the 

 arts. Every one, whatever may be his turn of mind, or course of occupation, may 

 find in its objects something congenial to his tastes, or conducive to his pleasures, 

 interests, or pursuits. Philosophy and practical mechanics are alike within its 

 view. Arts of embellishment and strict utility will be cultivated. Productions of 

 nature, genius, and labor, will be sought for, received, and interchanged. Inquiries 

 and discoveries at home and abroad will be prosecuted with zeal. Theories of an- 

 cient and modern times will be investigated and tried. Secrets of tlie earth, the 

 water, the air, and the heavens will be explored. In assuming for an association 

 which is scarcely matured into existence these broad and lofty purposes, we must 

 not be deemed extravagant or wild. An explanation will be found in the univer- 

 sality of the scheme and the connection with it of every vnriety of interest. Not 

 an expedition can be fitted out under the auspices of the Government, by land or 

 by water, but may be made auxiliary to it. Diplomatic agencies are directly and 

 positively promotive of its plans. Consular employments, wherever extended and 

 however diversified, will become contributory to them, almost without an effort. In 

 our own country every public institution, possessing some objects in common with 

 the Institute or collateral to it, may at once afford and derive assistance from the 

 harmonious intercourse. Membership of the one will naturally imply membership 

 of the other. Wherever light springs from human minds, its reflection will be 

 immediate from this association ; for it hopes to be identified with every source of 

 light which human minds can shed throughout the globe. 



Resting on the basis of a popular government, tlio Institute is designed literally 

 for the people. It hopes to collect, and to distribute with unsparing hand whatever 

 may be beneficial to man. It is obvious that there can be no limit to the number 

 of its associates except that which may be imposed by individual reluctance to do 

 good in this especial form. The door is open wide to the friends of the advance- 

 ment of the power, knowledge, and happiness of mankind; for the ability to be 

 useful extends throughout them all. Wherever a disposition can be found to con- 

 tribute or derive useful information, the badge of membership may be worn. 



It may be proper to repeat the intimations heretofore given, that the peculiar 

 means of utility which this association will possess, will consist in its power to ex- 

 change objects of interest and value with all other societies. Enough has been 

 said to show the extent and variety of correspondence which it may command. 

 This correspondence, in its almost infinite subdivision, becomes a thousand channels 

 through which will bo conveyed the productions of every iiuarter of the world. Fos- 

 8os.scd of those, not for selfish purposes, ncitlier for concealment nor mere display, they 

 will become, to all useful ends, the common property of kindred associations, of which 

 the Institute is but the most fortunate in procuring and the most happy in distribu- 

 ting the fruits of its position and peculiar care. It is more than probable that 

 many specimens may bo received of similar kitids. Such would at once be trans- 

 ferred where their uses, llius multiplied, would Im tho moat esteemed. When pro- 



