DISCOURSE OF W. B. TAYLOR: NOTES. 405 



gi ves so far as they have been made out, the details of the part 

 of the plan of organization directed by the act of Congress estab- 

 lishing the Institution. The two plans, namely that of publication 

 and original research, and that of collections of objects of nature 

 and art, are not incompatible, and may be carried on harmoniously 

 with each other. The only effect which they will have on one 

 another is that of limiting the operation of each, on account of the 

 funds given to the other." * 



That the fundamental assumption of this plan as to the true and 

 just interpretation of Smithson's Will, was not however peculiar to 

 Henry, is abundantly shown by many utterances of the thoughtful 

 and judicious. 



In an appreciative memoir on the scientific work of Smithson, 

 written by Professor Walter R. Johnson of Philadelphia, in 1844, 

 he speaks in his introductory remarks of the gratitude due to the 

 public benefactor, " whether with Franklin he found a library, with 

 Maclure endow an academy for researches in natural science, or 

 with Smithson seek to stimulate into activity the spirit of philo- 

 sophical research, to ' increase' by deepening the sources, and ' dif- 

 fuse ' by multiplying the channels of knowledge." And after 

 recounting the various investigations of Smithson, the writer con- 

 cludes his review by asking: "What would have been the purposes 

 of an institution founded by Smithson in his life-time? To this 

 his life-time is a sufficient answer. Researches to * increase' positive 

 knowledge, and publications to ' diffuse 7 and make that knowledge 

 available to mankind, such were the great objects of his own con- 

 stant praiseworthy and laborious efforts." f 



The first Chancellor of the Institution George M. Dallas, 

 (Vice-President of the United States,) in his address on the occa- 

 sion of laying the corner-stone of the building, May 1, 1847, 

 remarked that the foundation was designed by Smithson to be 

 "an institution not merely for disseminating, spreading, teaching 

 knowledge, but also and foremost for creating, originating, f in- 

 creasing' it." 



A committee of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 

 appointed to examine the "programme of organization" submitted 

 by Henry to that body for its consideration, in a very full report 

 presented to and unanimously adopted by the Academy at Bos- 

 ton, December 7, 1847, expressed an entire concurrence in the views 



* Programme, and Explanations. Smithsonian Report for 1847, pp. 128-139, of Sen. 

 d. pp. 120-131, of H. R. ed. Also Smithsonian Report for 1855, pp. 7-12. 



t A Memoir on the Scientific Character and Researches of James Smithson. By 

 Professor Walter R. Johnson. Read before the National Institute, Washington, 

 April 6, 1844. 



