



NOTE. 



The history of the Smithsonian Fund is briefly as follows : James Smithson, of London, 

 who died at Genoa, several years since, bequeathed the reversion of his whole estate to the 

 United States of America, to "found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, an estabUshment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." 



The bequest was communicated to Congress, by the President, on the 17th December, 1835, 

 and was accepted by Congress, by an act approved July 1st, 1836, pledging " the faith of the 

 United States " to the due application of the fund to the purposes of the bequest. 



On the 1st of September, 1838, the proceeds of the estate, amounting to $508,318 46, were 

 paid into the United States Mint, and, by authority of Congress, were invested in State stocks, 

 principally of the State of Arkansas. 



The bill reported by the Special Committee, at the present session, provides for expending the 

 interest abready accrued in buildings and other accommodations for the Institution, and for appro- 

 p.'iating the interest to accrue hereafter to the purposes indicated in the following remarks. 



(ijQAN-STAar' 



'^y.'Ov^Hi-'A. 





