PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON'S BEQUEST. 853 



national violations involved in the feudal claim of impress- 

 ment, and her desire, shown in other ways, for freeing the 

 international code from barbarous relics, whereby this in- 

 stitution, working in its orbit of calm discussion, might 

 become the ally of America towards gaining for these great 

 public benefactions, and others, the growth of our institu- 

 tions, in our days, (so maligned for retaining the domestic 

 servitude bequeathed to them by our progenitors,) favor 

 and acceptance among nations. The steady abhorrence ex- 

 pressed by this Government against employing savages in 

 warfare between civilized and Christian States, and its 

 abortive negotiations to prevent it, would further illustrate 

 the harmonizing policy of America. Such are samples of 

 the maxims that might claim elucidation from an institution 

 reared under the sanction of this republic, and thence, by 

 the principle of its existence, desirous of doing justice to 

 them, examined in juxtaposition with those taught in the 

 ancient and cloistered seminaries of the old world, and 

 upheld by its Governments. 



The other lectureships, and the foregoing, might be made 

 to yield, each in its proper field, contributions to " the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." I am 

 aware that voluntary lectureships have not always been 

 found to succeed. But in the foundation of these, consider- 

 ing the time and all concomitant circumstances, there seems 

 reasonable ground for anticipating success. The plan 

 would imply that the lecturers be also appointed by the 

 President and Senate. It would imply that their salaries 

 be ample enough to command the best men, and admit of 

 the exclusive devotion of their time to the studies and in- 

 vestigations of their posts. They might even be laid under 

 the restriction of not engaging in other pursuits, as our 

 laws interdict the revenue officers from trading. Genius 

 being of all countries, and the intentions of the founder 

 peculiarly expanded, the range of our own and other coun- 

 tries would be open for selecting the incumbents. The 

 desire of fame, increased by the hope of their lectures being 

 published, might be expected to stimulate them to exertion ; 

 and if incentives so high were wanting, the tenure of their 

 appointments, where the Executive and public eye would 

 be upon them, would act as a guard against slackness in 

 their duties. If knowledge is power, power, directing 

 knowledge, may make it efficacious. The place where the 

 lectures were delivered would impart to them interest and 

 dignity. If delivered when Congress was in session, and 

 not recurring too often, some of the members might be ex- 



