308 The Smithsonian Institution 



spirits ; 50,000 botanical specimens, 3000 insects, several 

 hundred thousand shells, 500 corallines, more than 2000 crus- 

 taceans, 300 starfishes, etc., 100 sponges, 7000 separate speci- 

 mens of minerals, and 50 boxes of the minerals and geological 

 specimens. Those engaged in caring for the collections at 

 this time were the curator of the Institute, Doctor King, 

 a taxidermist, a botanical assistant and two other assistants, 

 a mechanic, and a laborer. 



Thus was established what in reality was a National Mu- 

 seum, containing collections belonging to the government, 

 sustained by an appropriation from Congress, and employing 

 a curator and assistants. For a time prosperity seemed 

 assured, but complications soon arose which proved disas- 

 trous in the highest degree not only to the museum but to 

 the National Institute itself. 



The room in the Patent Office set apart for the collections 

 by direction of the Secretary of State was needed for the 

 display of models of inventions, and the Commissioner of 

 Patents made strong protests against its occupancy by the 

 Institute. 



In August, 1842, Congress authorized the occupancy, 

 "until other provisions be made by law," and also appro- 

 priated $20,000 for the care and arrangement of the collec- 

 tions, but in addition ordered that the persons having the 

 work in charge should be appointed by the Joint Committee 

 of the Library. 



Only a month earlier a charter had been granted to the 

 Institute, in which all trusts previously held were confirmed. 

 "The supporters of the Institute," writes Doctor Goode, 1 

 "were disposed to urge that this was applicable to the col- 

 lections of the ' exploring squadron ' at that time in the cus- 

 tody of the Institute. The question did not come up in a 



1 Goode. "Genesis of the United States National Museum," page 311. 



