TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS, 1843-45. 321 



Mr. TAPPAN next addressed the Senate, but in so low a 

 tone of voice that only detached sentences of his remarks 

 could be heard in the gallery. He was understood to argue 

 that there was no necessity for striking out the eighth sec- 

 tion, or materially altering the bill, as it was not incompat- 

 ible with its provisions to engraft upon it a modification of 

 the proposition submitted by the Senator from Massachusetts. 

 If a library on a liberal scale, such as the Senator desired, was 

 deemed proper, it would be only necessary to add a section to 

 that effect to the bill, striking out so much of the first sec- 

 tion as relates to the same subject. But he did not concur 

 with the Senator from Massachusetts that a vast and costly 

 miscellaneous library would meet the objects contemplated 

 by the donor with this munificent fund. In addition to the 

 general terms of his expressed will, that this fund should be 

 applied to the " increase and diffusion of knowledge among 

 men," it was proper to inquire into the manner in which he 

 himself conceived this was best to be accomplished ; and in 

 this inquiry whatever instruction could be gleaned from his 

 own habits and pursuits should not be disregarded, in the 

 absence of other lights. Mr. Smithson was an eminent 

 practical philosopher, intimately acquainted with the prac- 

 tical sciences such as chemistry, mineralogy, geology, and 

 natural history to the minute study of which he mainly 

 devoted his life. His favorite resort was the Jardin des Plantes 

 at Paris, an institution in which he found congregated al 

 the elements furnished by art, nature, and science, for pur 

 suits congenial to his own mind. There could be little- 

 doubt that, in making this bequest to the United States, he 

 had in view the establishment of some such institution as 

 the Jardin des Plantes in the western hemisphere. On this 

 reasonable supposition the present bill was framed; and to 

 show that it conformed closely to that design he requested 

 a description of that institution, which he sent to the table., 

 would be read. 



The description was accordingly read, but being imper- 

 fectly heard the substance only is here given : 



Jardin Royal des Plantes on Jardin du Roi. This institu- 

 tion owes its origin to Guy de la Brosse, physician to Louis 

 XIII. Richelieu, Sequier, and Bullion, intendants of finance 

 enabled him to found a botanic garden, and to lay down the 

 plan, which his successors carried to perfection. This germ, 

 grew to maturity during the reigns of Louis XIV and XV; 

 and the other departments owed their excellence of arrange- 

 ment to the celebrated Buffon during his superintendence. 

 His studies embraced all nature, and he collected his mate- 

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