TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, 1837-39. 159 



PKOCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE. 



SENATE, December 10, 1838. 



Message from the President of the United States. 



WASHINGTON, December 6, 1838. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States : 



The act of the 1st July, 1836, to enable the Executive to 

 .assert and prosecute with effect the claim of the United 

 States to the legacy bequeathed to them by James Smith- 

 son, late of London, having received its entire execution, 

 'and the amount recovered and paid into the Treasury hav- 

 ing, agreeably to an act of the last session, been invested in 

 State stocks, I deem it proper to invite the attention of 

 Congress to the obligation now devolving upon the United 

 States to fulfill the object of the bequest. In order to 

 obtain such information as might serve to facilitate its 

 attainment, the Secretary of State was directed, in July 

 last, to apply to persons versed in science, and familiar with 

 the subject of public education, for their views as to the mode 

 of disposing of the fund best calculated to meet the intentions 

 of the testator, and prove most beneficial to mankind. 

 Copies of the circular letter written in compliance with 

 these directions, and of the answers to it received at the 

 Department of State, are herewith communicated, for the 

 -consideration of Congress.* 



M. VAN BUREN. 



Ordered to be printed with the accompanying documents. 

 SENATE, January 10, 1839. 



Mr. ROBBINS offered the following resolution (S. 7) which 

 was read : 



Resolved, By the Senate, (the House of Representatives concurring,) that 

 a joint committee be appointed, consisting of seven members of the Senate, 

 and such a number of said House as they shall appoint, to consider the ex- 

 pediency of providing an institution of learning, to be established in the 

 city of Washington, for the application of the legacy bequeathed by Mr. 

 James Smithson, of London, to the United States in trust for that purpose; 

 also, to consider the expediency of a charter for such an institution ; 

 together with the powers and privileges, which, in their opinion, the said 

 charter ought to confer ; also, to consider the expediency of ways and 

 means to be provided by Congress, other than said legacy, but in addition 

 thereto, and in aid of said benevolent intention ; and to report by bill or 

 bills, or otherwise. 



Mr. BOBBINS made the following remarks : 

 The motive to this noble legacy was, as the will expresses 

 it, " The increase and diffusion of knowledge among men" 



* These communications appear elsewhere. 



