266 The Smithsonian Institution 



ment of the fund bequeathed by James Smithson to the 

 United States." This bill would have appropriated the larger 

 part of the sum for the establishment of an astronomical ob- 

 servatory, but even with this as the main purpose, it included 

 the following items : 



"For the library, one year, $30,000; $10,000 for the first 

 supply; $20,000 for a fund for an income of $1,200 a year, 

 for a constant supply of new works and periodical publications 

 upon science in other parts of the world, or in America." 



Senator Choate, of Massachusetts, strongly advocated the 

 use of a large part of the fund for library purposes. In a 

 speech delivered on January 8, 1845, he said: 



"We cannot do a safer, surer, more unexceptionable thing 

 with the income, or with a portion of the income perhaps 

 twenty thousand dollars a year for a few years than to 

 expend it in accumulating a grand and noble public library 

 one which, for variety, extent, and wealth, shall be, and 

 be confessed to be, equal to any now in the world." 



At the conclusion of his speech, Mr. Choate moved to 

 amend the bill under consideration by the insertion of the 

 following clause : 



"And whereas, an ample and well-selected public library 

 constitutes one of the permanent, constant, and effectual 

 means of increasing and diffusing knowledge among men ; 

 therefore, be it further enacted that a sum not less than 

 $20,000 be annually expended, of the interest of the fund 

 aforesaid, in the purchase of books and manuscripts for the 

 formation of a library of the institution aforesaid, which, for 

 its extent, variety, and value, shall be worthy of the donor of 

 the said fund, and of this nation, and of the age." 



On January 9, 1845, the debate in the Senate was resumed. 



