It is not enthusiasm alone that directs my pen, or causes me to in- 

 dulge in dreams almost too glorious to be realized, but a sober and 

 abiding conviction that the humble efforts I am now making to direct 

 the stream of public and private patronage towards the parched regions 

 of the arts will not be made in vain. Sooner or later fruit will be pro- 

 duced. Reforms and revolutions are not the creatures of a day, nor 

 great undertakings to be earned out without great patience, strong en- 

 thusiasm, and an ardent conviction of the justice of one's cause. If it 

 be my good luck to assist, however slightly, in bringing about the desired 

 results, I shall be indeed most happy, and shall feel that I have not 

 lived in vain. 



I shall, gentlemen, after having devoted some hasty remarks as to the 

 expediency of embracing practical agriculture and gardening within the 

 scope of the Smithsonian Fund, return in my next to the subject of the 

 National Institute, from which I have been forced to wander so long 

 and unwillingly. 



Yours, truly, J. C. B. 



THE SMITHSONIAN BEQUEST. 

 LETTER No. IX. 



WASHINGTON, February 4, 1844. 



MESSRS. EDITORS : My last letter was devoted to the subject of the 

 Fine Ails, and to the suggestion of a plan for embracing their encourage- 

 ment within the scope of the Smithsonian Fund, by the erection of a 

 public gallery within the mall, forming a portion of the Smithsonian 

 buildings, for the exhibition of paintings, statues, engravings, and archi- 

 tectural works. I also proposed a substitute, in case such plan should 

 not be deemed practicable or suited to the purpose; that is, the building 

 of a National Temple in the Capitol grounds, where the statue of 

 Washington by Greenough might be placed, after having been rescued 

 from its present ignoble hiding box, as also the statuary of Persicc, 

 which are now nearly ready for delivery, to be surrounded by the pro- 

 ductions of native and foreign artists in every branch of that profession. 

 I sincerely trust that this appeal may not be made in vain, and that 

 Congress and the people may spare a little time in order to turn their 

 attention to a subject which 1 deem highly important and interesting. 



Before proceeding to the discussion of the propriety of embracing also 

 within the operation of the Smithsonian Bequest the branch of practical 



