THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS, 1853-1855. 499 



mission and their reports shall have satisfied the Institution that some- 

 thing is contributed to the previous amount of knowledge in their par- 

 ticular branches, then the Institution shall cause those contributions 

 to be printed in an appropriate manner and copies to be distributed 

 to the various libraries of the country and the scientific associations 

 throughout the world, thus diffusing knowledge among men. 



One result of this transmission of the publications of the Institution 

 is eminently worthy of regard in considering the means of adminis- 

 tering the will of the testator. These books thus sent out are regarded 

 as "exchanges," and thus they insure to the Institution returns from 

 every corresponding society in the world that publishes its proceedings, 

 and a single publication of a thousand copies of any memoir by the 

 Smithsonian Institution is likely to insure to the shelves of its library 

 numerous copies of different scientific works from sister associations 

 abroad, so that the very expenditure in that branch of the Institution 

 is the means of supplying the books for a library instead of its becom- 

 ing the occasion of diminishing the means of supplying that branch. 

 And it should be added that the works received in exchange are those 

 which go to supply to the Institution a portion of the very kind of 

 information most suited to its character and objects and insuring to its 

 officers and frequenters detailed reports upon branches of science that 

 might otherwise have remained undeveloped. 



The city of Washington may rejoice in the multiplication of general 

 libraries, and the young may frequent the Smithsonian Institution for 

 duplicates of amusing volumes which they have seen in the Congres- 

 sional Library, and the latest novel or the last essay may find its place 

 on its shelves, to the augmentation of its catalogue and the diminu- 

 tion of its funds; but it will scarcely be claimed in behalf of such a 

 collection that it is a selection suited to the views of Smithson or in 

 accordance with his will. 



The committee, unable at present to pursue further their inquiries 

 into a subject of so much importance to the hopes of the scientific, 

 beg leave to present the following resolutions: 



Resolved, That having accepted the trust conferred by the last will and testament 

 of James Smithson, and having experienced inconvenience from a former investment 

 of a part of the funds of that trust, the United States will best promote the object of 

 the testator and secure the prosperous and profitable action of the Smithsonian 

 Institution by retaining the funds of that Institution in the public Treasury and 

 allowing the same interest now paid for the use of those funds. 



Resolved, That it is expedient to enlarge the permanent fund of the Institution by 

 the investment of such sums, not exceeding $125,000, as may have been or shall be 

 received for accrued interest or otherwise, in addition to the principal sum of the 

 Smithsonian bequest, and that the said additional sum of $125,000 be received into the 

 Treasury of the United States upon the same terms as those upon which the original 

 fund is now held. 



