34 The Smithsonian Institution 



lation, and recording of the remarkable phenomena of the 

 heavens, for the periodical publication of the observations 

 thus made, and of a nautical almanac, for the use of the mari- 

 ners of the United States and of all other navigating nations." 



The second, reported February 6, recited the opinion : 



" That the education of the children of these United States 

 is a duty of solemn and indispensable obligation incumbent 

 upon their parents and guardians, not for the increase and 

 diffusion of knowledge among men, but to qualify them for 

 the enjoyment of their rights and the performance of their 

 duties throughout life, [and therefore] that no part of the 

 Smithsonian fund ought to be applied to the education of the 

 children or youth of the United States, nor to any school, 

 college, university, or institute of education." 



These resolutions were evidently intended to antagonize 

 the views still held by many Senators, and urged in the 

 speech of Senator Robbins, of Rhode Island, in January, 1839, 

 who declared "that this institution should make one of a 

 number of colleges, to constitute a university, to be estab- 

 lished here, and to be endowed in a manner worthy of this 

 great nation and their immense resources." 



On February 18, Senator Robbins offered a counterpoise to 

 Mr. Adams's anti-university resolution in the following: 



" i. Resolved, That it is the duty of the United States, they 

 having accepted the trust under the will of Mr. Smithson, of 

 London, to execute that trust bona fide, according to the true 

 intent and meaning of the testator. 



" 2. Resolved, That the trust being to found an institution 

 in the city of Washington for the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men, the kind of institution which will 

 have the effect intended and described, in the most eminent 

 degree, will be the kind of institution which ought in good 

 faith to be adopted, as being most in accordance with the true 

 intent and meaning of the testator. 



