THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS, 1853-55. 643 



that have been consequent upon these reports. And the in- 

 stitution has been established, and been made most benefi- 

 cially operative by a " direction," which has been careful to 

 administer its affairs in the spirit of congressional enact- 

 ments. 



The Smithsonian Institution, however, is unique in its 

 character, and it is brought into action at 'a time when sci- 

 ence is advancing beyond all precedent, and when the 

 learned and the scientific of the old world are demanding 

 from the United States not merely a sympathy in their 

 labors, but a contribution to the amount of knowledge and 

 science with which the world has already been enriched. 



With the constant demands upon the institution, and the 

 constant efforts to respond to these demands, it is not 

 strange that it should be found occasionally necessary to 

 inquire whether its administration is maintained with a 

 constant eye to that progression which the advancement of 

 science renders necessary; and whether every plan which 

 was hesitatingly but carefully adopted in the establishment 

 of the institution is productive of the exact result which 

 was contemplated on its formation, and whether any of its 

 minor divisions impinge upon the more important branches, 

 and thus diminish the means of usefulness on the whole, 

 and delay the attainment of these objects, which are prop- 

 erly the end of the great establishment. 



To judge correctly of such matters it is not only neces- 

 sary to know what has been done by the institution, but 

 what was the plan of those by whom it was inaugurated ; 

 and especially it is important to compare the proceedings 

 of the institution with the will of its testator, and to ascer- 

 tain whether what he proposed has been in any degree 

 attained, and whether all has been done that the means 

 supplied would allow, and whether the plans for future 

 action are in direct conformity with a fair construction of 

 the will, and whether any of the income is being devoted 

 to objects not directly contemplated by the testator, and 

 which may be as well attained by existing institutions that 

 have neither the means nor the mission for that which may 

 be regarded as the specialty of the Smithsonian bequest. 



And the inquiry is, in the opinion of the committee emi- 

 nently worthy those who are acting for the nation which, 

 having accepted the solemn and important trust conferred 

 by Mr. Smithson, is bound to give to its administration all 

 that attention which is due to the liberal views and lofty 

 objects of the testator, and which is no less becoming the 

 peculiar character and natural distinction of the trustee. 



