OUTLINES OF A PLAN FOR A SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE 



FOR THE INCREASE AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG MEN," IN CON 

 FORMITY TO THE WILL OF THE LATE JAMES SMITHSON, OF ENGLAND. 



IFrom an Address delivered before the American Institute, by the Rev, W. BAtt-o-w, F«b. 10, 1847.] 



I. OF THE FUND, 



Let the Government charge itself with the purchase and main- 

 tenance of the library, museum, and gallery of art &c, if these pro- 

 jects must of necessity be persisted in, and thus relieve the Smith- 

 sonian fund of a burden foreign to its design. Let the original 

 fund of $515,169, with so much of the interest which has already 

 accrued thereon as would make up the amount of $700,000, remain 

 in the Treasury of the United States, as a permanent fund, drawing 

 interest at six per cent, per annum. This would yield for the pur- 

 poses of the Institution, $42,000. Let the balance of the interest 

 now on h::nd, say $57,298, be expended in the erection of a suitable 

 building for the uses of the Institution, on grounds authorized to be 

 taken for that purpose by the present act; but not so as to form a 

 wing of the Patent ,Office. This amount would erect a building suffi- 

 cient, but not showy. If the Government wishes for something in 

 the way of architectural display, let it provide the means, but not en- 

 large to such dimensions as to waste the scanty income in repairs 

 and attendance. 



OF THE REGENTS. 



Let the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution consist of the 

 judges of the Supreme court, who compose the bench at Washington, 

 with an equal number selected by themselves from among the sages 

 of the land, who have become illustrious for their wisdom and virtue, 

 and who have retired from the strife of politics. Let all vacancies 

 by death or resignation, among the associates of the Judges, be filled 

 by the election of the whole board; the vacancies on the bench of 

 Judges being filled as by law provided. Let the board so constituted 

 have perpetual succession, and possess all the necessary corporate pow- 



