PREFACE. 



The present volume is undertaken in continuation of a volume bear- 

 ing the title "The Smithsonian Institution: Documents Relative to its 

 Origin and History," prepared by the editor of the present volume, 

 which, besides other matters, gives the legislative history of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution to 1877. Prefixed to this will be found a selection 

 of the documents which passed between the United States and the 

 attorneys in England, antecedent to the actual reception of the bequest 

 of James Smithson, a British subject, who gave his fortune to the 

 United States of America "to found at Washington, under the name 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and 

 diffusion of knowledge among men." 



This fact was communicated through the United States legation at 

 London to the Secretary of State, and was made the subject of a 

 special message to Congress by President Tyler on December 17, 1835. 

 The message was referred to committees, and it was at last agreed 

 that, although there was some doubt as to the propriety of accepting 

 it, the bequest should be obtained, if possible, and the Honorable 

 Richard Rush was sent to England in July, 1836, as a special agent of 

 the United States, with power of attorney from the President to prose- 

 cute the claim in the chancery court. The fund was brought to this 

 country in 1838, and after eight years of debate, including consul- 

 tation with all the leading educators of the United States at that 

 time, a law was finally framed on August 10, 1846, "to establish the 

 Smithsonian Institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge 

 among men." Under this act. with a few amendments, the operations 

 of the Institution have been carried on to the present time, and a 

 detailed account of the legislation by Congress, as well as of proposed 

 action, from 1835 to March 3, 1899, is given in this work. The leg- 

 islation fulry accomplished is shown by acts and joint resolutions, 

 followed in all cases by references to the volumes and pages of the 

 Statutes at Large from which they were quoted. 



Concurrent resolutions of the Senate and House and separate reso- 

 lutions of either branch of Congress are referred to by the dates of 

 action. 



An account is also given of action or discussion relative to objects 

 intrusted by Congress to the care of the Institution, and of some of 



