284 MEMORIAL OF JOSEPH HENRY. 



that an Institution founded by the liberality of a foreigner, and to 

 which he has affixed his own name, should be charged with the 

 keeping of a separate Museum, the property of the United States. 

 - - - The small portion of our funds which can be devoted to 

 a museum may be better employed in collecting new objects, such 

 as have not yet been studied, than in preserving those from which 

 the harvest of discovery has already been .fully gathered. " Nor 

 was he reconciled to the gift by the suggestion that a suitable appro- 

 priation would be granted by the National Government, for the 

 expense of its custody. "This would be equally objectionable; 

 since it would annually bring the Institution before Congress as a 

 supplicant for government patronage.' 7 * 



In his Report for 1851, he forcibly stated in regard to the require- 

 ments of a general Museum, that "the whole income devoted to 

 this object would be entirely inadequate : " and he strongly urged 

 a National establishment of the Museum on a basis and a scale 

 which should be an honor and a benefit to the people and their 

 Capital city. " Though the formation of a general collection is 

 neither within the means nor the province of the Institution, it is 

 an object which ought to engage the attention of Congress. A 

 general Museum appears to be a necessary establishment at the seat 

 of government of every civilized nation. - - - An establish- 

 ment of this kind can only be supported by Government ; and the 

 proposition ought never to be encouraged of putting this duty on 

 the limited though liberal bequest of a foreigner."f This policy 

 was urged in almost every subsequent Report. " There can be but 

 little doubt that in due time ample provision will be made for a 

 Library and Museum at the Capital of this Union, worthy of a 

 Government whose perpetuity depends upon the virtue and intelli- 

 gence of the people. It is therefore unwise to hamper the more 

 important objects of this Institution by attempting to anticipate 

 results which will be eventually produced without the expenditure 

 of its means." { "The importance of a collection at the seat of 

 government, to illustrate the physical geography, natural history, 



* Smithsonian Report for 1849, pp. 181, 182 (of Sen. ed.) pp. 173, 174 (of H. Rep. ed.) 

 ^Smithsonian Report for 1851, p. 227 (of Sen. ed.) p. 219 (of H. Rep. ed.) 

 I Smithsonian Report for 1852, p. 253 (of Sen. ed.)-^p. 245 (of H. Rep. ed.) 



