PREFACE 



In 1796, George Washington, in his farewell address to his 

 fellow -country men, said : ''Promote, then, as an object of pri- 

 mary importance, institutions for the general dffitsion of 

 knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government 

 gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion 

 should be enlightened" Thirty years later an Englishman, 

 James Smithson, as though influenced by these words, be- 

 queathed the whole of his property to the United States of 

 America in trust " to found at Washington an establishment 

 for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." John 

 Quincy Adams, in presenting to the National Ho^ise of Repre- 

 sentatives the first report of the Select Committee on the mes- 

 sage of the President announcing the Smithson Bequest, ex- 

 horted his colleagues in these words: "Let the trust of James 

 Smithson to the United States of America be faithfitlly exe- 

 cuted by their representatives in Congress ; let the result ac- 

 complish his object : ' the increase and diffusion of knowledge 

 among men.' ' 



The Act of Congress establishing the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion was signed by President Polk on August 10, 1846, and 

 on September 7 the Board of Regents held its first meeting. 

 The past year marks the close of the first half century of the 

 operations of the Institution. This volume presents the story 

 of the realization of one of the desires of Washington, through 

 the will of Smithson, the wise legislation of Congress, and the 

 devotion of those upon whom the management of the Smithso- 

 nian Institution has devolved. 



WILLIAM MCKINLEY. 



The Executive Mansion, 

 Washington, June 22, 1897. 



