PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON'S BEQUEST. 99 



therefore, conclude with the wish of father Paul, which, 



alas! was not fulfilled as to his Republic, but I hope will 



apply with more truth to your institution, " ESTO PERPETUA !" 



I am, with great regard and esteem, 



PETER S. DUPONCEAU. 



.Extracts from discourse of Hon. J. R. Poinsett, January 1, 1841. 



There can be no doubt that a National Institution, such 

 as we contemplate, having at its command an Observatory, 

 a Museum containing collections of all the productions of 

 nature, a Botanic and Zoological Garden, and the necessary 

 apparatus for illustrating every branch of physical science, 

 would attract together men of learning and students from 

 every part of our country, would open new avenues of in- 

 telligence throughout the whole of its vast extent, and would 

 contribute largely to disseminate among the people the 

 truths of nature and the light of science. 



A fortunate concurrence of circumstances offers a favor- 

 able occasion to carry all these important objects into imme- 

 diate effect. A liberal and enlightened Englishman, fore- 

 seeing the benefits which would result to science throughout 

 the world, by its successful cultivation in the vast and ex- 

 tensive field offered by these States and Territories, with 

 enlarged views and praiseworthy philanthropy, has be- 

 queathed a fund to be employed for tiie sacred purposes of 

 increasing and diffusing knowledge among men. This 

 bequest will enable the Government to afford all necessary 

 protection to the promotion of science and the useful arts, 

 without the exercise of any doubtful power, by the applica- 

 tion of the annual interest of this fund to the establishment 

 of an Observatory, the erection of suitable buildings to 

 contain the collections, and for lecture rooms, the purchase 

 of books and instruments, and the salaries of professors and 

 curators. Specimens of natural history are rapidly accumu- 

 lating. The exploring expedition has already sent home a 

 large collection, which remains packed away in boxes in a 

 room belonging to the Philadelphia Museum, generously 

 loaned by the company for- that purpose ; and we may 

 anticipate, from the ability and well known zeal of the 

 naturalists who accompanied it by order of the Government, 

 that the squadron itself, shortly expected, will return richly 

 freighted with objects of natural history. I cannot believe 

 that after all the labor, pains, and expense incurred in pro- 

 curing them, these specimens are not to be brought to 



