132 LEADING AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



at length adopted was better than any of those previously proposed, 

 and the form into which the Institution grew was still in advance 

 of the plan which at length passed Congress. 



After a seven years' discussion of all sorts of combinations, the 

 act under which the Institution was at last organized became a 

 law in August, 1846. It provided that the business of the Institu- 

 tion should be conducted by a Board of Regents, who should 

 choose a suitable person as Secretary of the Institution. It also 

 provided for the erection of a suitable building of plain and durable 

 materials and structure, without unnecessary ornament, for the 

 reception of objects of natural history, a chemical laboratory, a 

 library and gallery of art, and the necessary lecture-rooms. The 

 Secretary had charge of the building and property of the Institu- 

 tion, and was also to discharge the duties of librarian and keeper 

 of the museum, and, with the consent of the Board of Regents, to 

 employ the necessary assistants. All the officers were removable 

 by the Board of Regents whenever in their judgment the interests 

 of the Institution required them to be changed. 



The Board of Regents created by the act immediately com- 

 menced active operations. In December, 1846, a committee of 

 the Board, consisting of Mr. Robert Dale Owen, Mr. Henry N. 

 Hilliard, Professor A. D. Bache, Mr. Rufus Choate, and Mr. 

 Pennybacker, made a report on the plan of organization. Among 

 the recommendations of this report the qualifications desired in 

 the Secretary are of interest to us. It was pointed out as an almost 

 necessary condition that the Secretary should become the chief 

 executive officer of the Institution. After some general remarks 

 respecting the qualifications of Secretary the report proceeds: 



"Your committee think it would be an advantage if a compe- 

 tent Secretary could be found, combining also the qualifications 

 of a professor of the highest standing in some branch of science. 

 If to these be added efficiency as an executive officer and a knowl- 

 edge of the world we may hope to see filling this distinguished 

 post a man who, when brought into communication with dis- 

 tinguished men and societies in this and other countries, shall be 

 capable, as representative of the Smithsonian Institution, to reflect 

 honour on the office, not requiring to borrow distinction from it. 



