910 PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON's BEQUEST. 



AN ADDRESS ON THE DUTIES OF GOVERNMENT, 



In reference chiefly to Public Instruction, with the Outlines of a Plan for 

 the Application of the Smithsonian Fund to that Object, 



BY RKV. WILLIAM BARLOW. 



Delivered, in substance, before the American Institute, in the Lyceum of 

 Natural History, in New York City, February 10, 1847.* 



GENTLEMEN OP THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE: 



The main object of the discourse which I am now to de- 

 liver is to lay before you the outlines of a PLAN of a Smith- 

 sonian Institution "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge 

 among men" in conformity to the WILL of the late JAMES 

 SMITHSON, of England, by whom a fund for that purpose 

 has been bequeathed to these United States. 



Preliminary, however, to the main design, I beg leave to 

 submit a few thoughts on the great ends of government, 

 and its duties in regard to public instruction. The theme 

 deserves our fixed attention; for, where the sovereignty is 

 vested in the people, and the legislator is the mere exponent 

 of the popular will, constitutional liberty and social well- 

 being must depend mainly on the intelligence and virtue of 

 the constituency. * 



The terms of the will must determine the character of 

 the institution; and, brief as they are, they seem to be suffi- 

 ciently explicit to show what were the wishes. and intentions 

 of Mr. Smithson. 



First. It is evident, I think, that he contemplated the 

 founding of an INSTITUTION sui generis different from any 

 existing university, college, library, museum, or gallery of 

 art. Had he intended any one of these he would have said 

 so, without any circumlocution. 



Secondly. By "MEN" he undoubtedly meant all mm, but 

 especially all citizens of the United States the masses of 

 men, the comparatively neglected millions, as distinguished from 

 the privikged classes. Having in view the benefit of the people, 

 he selected this country as his heir, naturally supposing that 

 a popular government would discharge the trust in good 

 faith for the advantage of its constituency. 



Thirdly. By " THE INCREASE AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE " 

 I suppose he meant, not so much the increase of the sum 



New York. Printed by B. R. Barton. 1847. 



