68 The Smithsonian Institution 



lent more effectual aid than our lamented colleague. Al- 

 though from taste and the conditions of his active life he 

 might more properly be styled a literary man, yet were his 

 scientific attainments by no means inconsiderable, and a lib- 

 eral and cultivated mind, which admitted of no narrow views, 

 enabled him to embrace, in all its comprehensive simplicity, 

 the idea of the generous foreigner who, in founding this In- 

 stitution, consecrated his fortune to 'the increase and diffu- 

 sion of knowledge among men.' 



"The objects which in Congress occupied most of his at- 

 tention, and which it gave him most pleasure to defend and 

 sustain, were those connected with literature and science, and 

 in these he showed the same qualities which, as chairman of 

 our Executive Committee, he has here so often exhibited. 

 With the great interests of State and the high objects of na- 

 tional politics he was abundantly qualified to grapple ; in fact, 

 he shrunk from no occasion in which to exert himself when 

 enlarged views and skilful powers of debate could be ren- 

 dered serviceable to his country or the world. But if duty 

 called upon him from time to time for such efforts, still it was 

 to objects promotive of art and science and high civilization, 

 to means for man's moral and intellectual improvement, and 

 the enlargement of his knowledge and power over nature, 

 that he turned with ever new and unwearied interest. To 

 him probably more than to any other Senator the library of 

 Congress was indebted for the augmented fund which it has 

 now for some years enjoyed, and for the care taken in the se- 

 lection of the materials which render its shelves so useful. 

 The exploring expedition was more than once indebted to his 

 earnest and persistent efforts for the continuance of the means 

 of publication of its results ; the Coast Survey for expositions 

 of its importance to the country and the world; the Smith- 

 sonian for warding off assaults and reconciling enthusiastic 

 but misguided opposition ; the naval and military expeditions, 

 boundary surveys, and explorations, for close, searching in- 

 vestigations which led to important improvements and to cor- 



