THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 9 



various exploring expeditions, and by publishing the results of observations made 

 under its direction at the expense of the Government. 



" The Institution has also been instrumental in directing attention to American 

 antiquities, and has awakened such an interest in the subject as will tend to the 

 collection of all the facts which can be gathered relative to the ancient inhabi- 

 tants of this continent. It has also rendered available, for the purposes of the 

 ethnologist and philanthropist, the labors of our missionaries among the Dacotahs, 

 by publishing a volume on the language of this tribe of Indians ; and has done 

 good service to comparative philology, by the distribution of directions for col- 

 lecting Indian vocabularies. 



" It has established an extended system of literary and scientific exchanges, 

 both foreign and domestic, and annually transmits between the most distant 

 societies and individuals thousands of packages of valuable works. It has pre- 

 sented its own publications, free of expense, to all the first class libraries in the 

 world, thus rendering them accessible, as far as possible, to all persons who 

 are interested in their study. No restriction of copyright has been placed on 

 their republication, and the truths which they contain are daily finding their way 

 to the general public through the labor of popular writers and teachers. The 

 distribution of its publications, and its system of exchanges, has served not only to 

 advance and diffuse knowledge, but also to increase the reputation, and conse- 

 quently the influence, of our country to promote a kindly and sympathetic feel- 

 ing between the New World and the Old, alike grateful to the philosopher and 

 the philanthropist. 



" These are the fruits of what is called the system of active operations of the 

 Institution ; and its power to produce other and continuous results is only limited 

 by the amount of the income which can be appropriated to it, since each succeed- 

 ing year has presented new and important fields for its cultivation. All the an- 

 ticipations with regard to it have been more than realized/' 



The following extract from a speech delivered in the House of Representatives, 

 February 27, 1855, by one of the Regents, Hon. William H. English, of Indiana, 

 gives an excellent and comprehensive view of the condition of the Institution : 



* * * " Look at the financial department, where corruption would most 

 likely exist, if it existed at all, and you will find the gratifying fact that it has 

 been so judiciously managed, that, after paying all the current expenses, the funds 

 and property are this day worth double the amount of the original bequest. Where, 

 sir, in this age of extravagant expenditures of public money and deficiency bills 

 will you find a parallel to this ? The Regents are authorized to expend all the 

 accruing interest ; but so far from doing so, they have, by husbanding their re- 

 sources, and by constant watchfulness over the disbursements, actually saved the 

 sum of 8125,000, which they have now on hand to apply as a permanent addition 

 to the principal. What, then, is the result ? A magnificent building, of ample 

 dimensions, has been erected, at a cost of 8300,000. Books, apparatus, and other 

 articles have been provided for the library, museum, laboratory, and gallery of 

 art, worth 885,000. Lecturers have been employed, original researches have 



