Founding of the Institution 57 



which had been under consideration for ten years before. 

 He prepared the final act of incorporation, which was drawn 

 up by him in 1845, an( ^ which was, except in the elimination 

 of his plan for a national normal school, but slightly changed 

 in the substitute which was finally passed. As a member of 

 the first Board of Regents, he was instrumental in selecting 

 and carrying out the plan for the Smithsonian building, and, 

 as chairman of the Organization Committee, drew up, with 

 the assistance of Alexander Dallas Bache, the " Report on 

 Plan of Organization," in which the organizing Act was ana- 

 lyzed and expounded, and many of the possibilities of the 

 future for the first time clearly set forth. From this Com- 

 mittee was also reported at an early meeting the following 

 resolution, from the adoption of which, and its legitimate out- 

 come, there have been more significant results than through 

 any other act of this or any succeeding board : 



"Resolved, That it is essential, for the advancement of the 

 proper interests of the trust, that the Secretary of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution be a man possessing weight of character, 

 and a high grade of talent ; and that it is further desirable 

 that he possess eminent scientific and general requirements ; 

 that he be a man capable of advancing science and promoting 

 letters by original research and effort, well qualified to act as 

 a respected channel of communication between the Institution 

 and scientific and literary individuals and societies in this and 

 foreign countries ; and, in a word, a man worthy to represent, 

 before the world of science and of letters, the institution over 

 which this board presides." 



The successful organization of the Institution has been the 

 result of long-continued effort on the part of men of unusual 

 ability, energy, and personal influence. No board of trus- 

 tees, no succession of officers serving out their terms in rota- 

 tion, could have developed from a chaos of conflicting opinions 

 5 



