46 The Smithsonian Institution 



Association for the Advancement of Science), had been held 

 in Washington. The occasion was a brilliantly successful 

 one. The President of the United States presided at the 

 first meeting and some prominent public man at each of the 

 others. 



The National Institute received its full share of encomium. 

 President Tyler, in presiding at the first meeting, lauded it 

 highly, held out the hope that the government would " con- 

 tinue to it a fostering care," and expressed in a general way 

 the hope that it should be identified with the future National 

 Museum and the future Smithsonian Institution. "Where 

 can the government find," said he, "a safer depository for 

 the fruits of its expeditions, fitted out to explore distant and 

 unknown regions, than the National Institute? What can it 

 better do for the ' increase and diffusion of knowledge among 

 men ' than by patronizing and sustaining this magnificent 

 undertaking ? " 



Senator Walker, of Mississippi, one of the directors of the 

 Institute, delivered an address on the present condition and 

 history of American science, ending with an appeal to scien- 

 tific men to come forward and unite with the people in sus-. 

 taining and advancing the National Institute. 



Senator Woodbury, of New Hampshire, in a letter to the 

 secretary, expressed himself strongly in favor of making the 

 society the agent of the government in the matter of caring 

 for collections, patents, and copyrights, and also in the exe- 

 cution of the Smithson trust. 



John Quincy Adams closed his address in these words : 



" I avail myself of this occasion to express my regret that, 

 having taken an humble part in the establishment of this 

 institution from its first foundation, under the auspices of 

 Mr. Poinsett, I have been able to contribute so little to its 

 promotion and advantage, and to add my heartfelt satisfaction 



