JOSEPH HENRY, LL.D. 293 



increase and diffusion of knowledge among men " ? 

 " For ten years," says Garfield, " Congress wrestled 

 with those nine words of Smithson, and could not 

 handle them. Some political philosophers of that 

 period held that we had no constitutional authority 

 to accept the gift at all, and proposed to send it 

 back to England. Every conceivable proposition 

 was made." 



John Quincy Adams desired a great astronomi- 

 cal observatory. One person wished an agricul- 

 tural school ; another, a college for women ; another, 

 that the funds should be devoted to meteorological 

 observations all over the Union. Finally, a board 

 of regents was appointed, with power to choose a 

 suitable person as secretary. 



He must be a learned man, a wise financier, with 

 good judgment and pleasant manners. Professor 

 Henry fulfilled all the conditions. He was admired 

 for his learning ; in finance he was wise, as thirty 

 years have proved, the institute with its endow- 

 ment now being valued at one and a half million 

 dollars ; his kindly manner made him accessible, 

 willing to listen to any one who hoped or believed 

 he had discovered something in the line of knowl- 

 edge. A man who can be harsh or cold to an igno- 

 rant person, or indeed to anybody, does not deserve 

 to hold any public position. With natural quick- 

 ness of temper in early life, he had gained remark- 

 able self-control. Like Baron Cuvier, he had no 

 tolerance for sarcasm or " practical jokes." Henry 

 was unanimously chosen, entering upon his duties 



