50 The Smithsonian Institution 



finally adopted. It provided, however, for the appointment 

 of various professors and lecturers, for a school of agriculture 

 and mechanical arts, as well as for experimental gardens, a 

 library of science and economics, and a museum. 



The museum clause of this bill was much the same as that 

 finally agreed to, and contained a provision that the natural 

 history objects, and geological and mineralogical specimens 

 belonging to the United States, " in whosesoever custody the 

 same may be," should be transferred to the custody of the 

 board of managers of the Smithsonian Institution. This was 

 evidently worded with the purpose of withdrawing from the 

 possession of the National Institute the various collections, 

 including those which had belonged to Smithson, which had 

 fallen into its hands between 1840 and 1845. Indeed, the 

 National Institute seems to have already become the object 

 of some distrust and prejudice. A proposition that two of 

 the seven "managers," not ex officio members of the board, 

 should be selected from the membership of the National In- 

 stitute, caused a vigorous debate in the Senate, in the 

 course of which at least two Senators objected strongly to 

 placing the administration of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 even to so slight a degree as this, in the hands of a private 

 corporation. 



The bill finally passed the Senate, January 23, 1845, but 

 was not acted upon by the House. 



In connection with Mr. Tappan's bill, in January, 1845, 

 Senator Choate, of Massachusetts, first appeared in advocacy 

 of the establishment of "a noble public library, one which, 

 for variety, extent, and wealth, should be equal to any in the 

 world," and delivered an eloquent oration upon the influence 

 of books. The amendment at that time proposed by him, 

 together with other amendments urged by Mr. George P. 

 Marsh, in connection with the Owen- Hough bill, brought 



