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scattered about at the Departments, in private rooms, garrets, and 

 cellars, (and all belonging to the National Institute,) would astonish 

 the public if a list and examination could be made. Is it not then 

 a pity that all these treasures, which are as yet for the most part 

 concealed from the public eye, should rot away in unknown places, 

 whilst the collections of the Exploring Expedition are snugly 

 stowed in proper cases, and open to the inspection of the curious ? 

 If Congress hesitated not to use the public moneys for the benefit of 

 an expedition which was in a great degree scientific, and the re- 

 sults of which I doubt not will be of general interest and advan- 

 tage, why should it now pause when an institution, whose object is 

 also scientific, whose collections do not yield, as I am informed, in 

 value, variety, number, and interest to those just referred to, ap- 

 plies to it for assistance and for the means of preserving those col- 

 lections from destruction ? In making this remark, I do not want 

 to be understood as casting any reflection upon the Exploring Ex- 

 pedition. I am well disposed to believe that it was well conducted, 

 and that its results are valuable. I merely wish, in speaking of it 

 in conjunction with the collections of the National Institute, to ob- 

 serve, that the same reason which induced the Government to give 

 those of that expedition so fit a place for exhibition, ought, to a 

 certain degree, to induce Congress to make some provision for the 

 safe-keeping of the cabinets and library of the Institute, which are 

 intended for the use and benefit of the nation at large. Besides 

 the collections formerly deposited at the different Departments, 

 consisting of presents to this Government, or its Ministers, Secre- 

 taries, or foreign agents, from other Governments or Potentates, 

 pictures, treaties, &c., have been placed under the care of the Na- 

 tional Institute, and are now exhibited in the hall of the Patent 

 Office, devoted principally to the cabinets of the Exploring Expe- 

 dition. Thus a union has been established between the Govern- 

 ment of the United States and the Institute, which is employed as 

 its agent and trustee to the above extent. It seems to me, there- 

 fore, that, in addition to the claims which that society has upon 

 Governmental support and patronage, based upon the precedents 

 before alluded to, the fact of this trusteeship and the services so ren- 

 dered, should put it upon the footing of an actual and bona fide 

 possessor of a vested right upon the liberality and justice of Con- 

 gress. By enabling the Institute, in the manner designated, to pre- 

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