TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1845-1847. 353 



deposit, and both which were the property of the Government, should 

 be placed in the Smithsonian Institution until there should be substi- 

 tuted for them articles collected by that Institution itself. 



He agreed with Mr. Owen that a great library, such as was provided 

 for in the bill which passed the Senate two years ago, was not desira- 

 able, and said that the necessary buildings to contain the greatest 

 library in the world would in its own erection exhaust the entire sum. 

 This Capitol itself would not be sufficient to contain 800,000 volumes, 

 which would be the largest library in the world, so properly arranged 

 as to be accessible. A library was not the object of Mr. Smithson; 

 but that it should cover general ground, in which all objects of science 

 (if possible) should be included, and among the rest he agreed with the 

 bill in the propriety of appropriating a part of the annual fund to the 

 preparation of instructors, to be sent out throughout the whole country.' 

 He would also appropriate a part of the fund to the defraying the 

 expenses of the delivery of annual lectures by our most distinguished 

 men at different points throughout the country for scientific instruction. 



Mr. INGERSOLL gave some other general views, approving decidedly 

 the object of the institution, and warmly urging the bounden duty of 

 Congress to apply it according to the intentions of Mr. Smithson and 

 to discharge the obligations imposed upon it by the acceptance of this 

 trust. 



Mr. G. W. JONES modified his amendment by inserting, after the 

 words " next of kin," the words "or residuary legatee." 



Mr. F. P. STANTON next addressed the committee as follows: 



Mr. CHAIRMAN: It has been a matter of very general complaint that 

 there has been great delay in performing the trust imposed upon this 

 Government by its acceptance of the Smithsonian bequest. Whether 

 this complaint be well or ill founded, all will agree that the time has 

 now arrived for decisive action and that the honor and good faith of 

 the Government require a speedy application of the fund to its destined 

 purpose. 



Very nearly eight years have elapsed since the magnificent sum of 

 half a million of dollars, sanctified by the will of James Smithson to 

 the humane purpose "of increasing and diffusing knowledge among 

 men," has been received into the Treasury of the United States. 



But if this delay is to be regretted on some accounts, at least one 

 great advantage has accrued: The interest of the fund has accumulated 

 to such an amount that every necessary building for the complete 

 accommodation of a most extensive institution may be immediately 

 constructed without any diminution of the original sum. That will 

 remain untouched, the fruitful source of perpetual supply and support 

 for the beneficent establishment which may be created by the bill. 



Besides, sir, during this long period of delay many plans have 

 been suggested and discussed, some learned reports have been nmde 

 H. Doc. 732 23 



