ADDRESS OF PROF. S. NEWCOMB. 461 



The position of the Smithsonian building in the public grounds 

 led Professor Henry to take an active interest in measures for the 

 improvement of the city. Among his latest efforts in this direction 

 were those made with the object of having the old canal which 

 bounded the Mall filled up. Some of us may remember a witty 

 argument with which he urged this measure upon the Board of 

 Public Works. " The great inefficiency of the Smithsonian had been 

 said by its opponents to be illustrated by the fact that, although 

 formed to diffuse knowledge over the whole world, it had not 

 diffused knowledge enough among the local authorities where it 

 was situated to make them see the necessity of abating the pesti- 

 lential nuisance of this obsolete canal." The work of filling up 

 was immediately commenced by the board to which the argument 

 was addressed. 



The following extract from one of Professor HENRY'S early 

 journals will be of interest as showing the character of his early 

 efforts for the improvement of the Smithsonian grounds : 



"NOVEMBER 25, 1850. 



"Occupied this morning examining the public grounds between 

 the Capitol and the Monument. I have been impressed since my 

 connection with the Smithsonian Institution with the importance of 

 improving the public grounds on which the Smithsonian is placed 

 in accordance with a general plan, and I have taken every oppor- 

 tunity of expatiating on the capacity of the Mall to be made one 

 of the most beautiful drives in the world. My enthusiasm on this 

 point was much dampened a few months ago, when it was proposed 

 to place the Botanic Garden on the Mall near the Smithsonian. 

 The site was chosen and, as I supposed, all things settled, when to 

 my surprise some influence at once changed the location. 



"My interest in the project was again awakened by a movement 

 on the part of Mr. Corcoran. An appropriation was made to 

 improve the grounds around the President's House. Mr. Cor- 

 coran was interested in the square opposite his residence. He 

 requested me to go with him to the President to ask him to inter- 

 fere. We called on the President, who manifested an interest in 

 the subject but said he had no power to act, but if we would show 

 him the authority he would do what he could to forward the object. 

 On this assurance Mr. Corcoran and myself left the President, 

 and I was requested to search for the law authorizing the action of 

 the President. For this purpose I called upon Peter Force, 



