PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON ? 8 BEQUEST. 749 



tion of a library, and a collection of objects of nature and 

 art. These two plans combined, embrace the general prop- 

 ositions adopted by the Board of Regents at their last meet- 

 ing, as the basis of future operations. It is intended in the 

 proposed plan to harmonize the two modes of increasing 

 and diffusing knowledge, and to give to the institution the 

 widest influence compatible with its limited income. That 

 all the propositions will meet with general approval cannot 

 be expected ; and that this organization is the best that 

 could be devised is neither asserted nor believed. To pro- 

 duce a priori a plan of organization which shall be found 

 to succeed perfectly in practice, and require no amendment, 

 would be difficult under the most favorable circumstances, 

 and becomes almost impossible where conflicting opinions 

 are to be harmonized, and the definite requirements of the 

 act establishing the institution are to be observed. It is 

 not intended that the details of the organization, as given 

 in the programme, should be permanently adopted without 

 careful trial ; they are rather presented as suggestions to be 

 adopted provisionally, and to be carried into operation 

 gradually and cautiously, with such changes, from time to 

 time, as experience may dictate. 



Though the leading propositions of the programme have 

 been fully discussed by the board, yet it will be important 

 to offer some remarks in explanation and illustration of 

 them in their present connection. 



That the institution is not a national establishment, in 

 the sense in which institutions dependent on the Govern- 

 ment for support are so, must be evident when it is recol- 

 lected that the money was not absolutely given to the 

 United States, but intrusted to it for a special object, 

 namely: the establishment of an institution for the benefit 

 of men, to bear the name of the donor, and, consequently, 

 to reflect upon his memory the honor of all the good which 

 may be accomplished by means of the bequest. The oper- 

 ations of the Smithsonian Institution ought, therefore, to be 

 mingled as little as possible with those of the Government, 

 and its funds should be applied exclusively and faithfully to 

 the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. 



That the bequest is intended for the benefit of men in 

 general, and that its influence ought not to be restricted to 

 a single district, or even nation, may be inferred not only 

 from the words of the will, but also from the character of 

 Smithson himself; and I beg leave to quote, from a scrap 

 of paper in his own hand, the following sentiment bearing 

 on this point : " The man of science has no country ; the 



