6 14 The Smithsonian Institution 



French, and German languages. The great value of this 

 work is beyond dispute and its appreciation evidenced by the 

 fact that the first edition was soon exhausted and a second 

 one was issued. This is worthy of special note when it is re- 

 membered that chemistry was at that time just beginning to 

 receive recognition among colleges in the United States. 



The diffusion of knowledge by means of public lectures, 

 especially during the sessions of Congress, had become part 

 of the recognized policy of the Institution, and during the 

 winter of 1852 the younger Silliman delivered a course of six 

 lectures on the four ancient elements : " Earth, Air, Fire, 

 and Water." In the Report for 1853 the announcement was 

 made that J. Lawrence Smith had been engaged to give a 

 full course of lectures on chemistry ; and, accordingly, during 

 the winter of 185 3-' 54 a series of twenty-five lectures was 

 given by Professor Smith. The general character of the 

 course may be inferred from the title of the first. It was : 

 " The improvement of the study of chemistry and its close 

 connection with the progress of the arts and manufactures of 

 the present age ; also general notice of the nature of bodies, 

 more especially gaseous bodies." 



Although the establishment of a chemical laboratory was 

 provided for in the law incorporating the Institution, it does 

 not appear to have come into existence until its organization by 

 Professor Smith. In the Report for 1854 Henry says : " The 

 laboratory of the Institution during the past year has been 

 used by Professor J. Lawrence Smith in the examination of 

 American minerals ; and on behalf of the Treasury Depart- 

 ment in investigations relative to the different kinds of mo- 

 lasses imported into this country. He also made a series 

 of analyses of meteorites, among which were fourteen speci- 

 mens belonging to the cabinet of James Smithson, the founder 

 of the Institution." 



