74 
remarks, “ there was no purpose on which the predominating 
party were more fixed than to prevent the gratification of 
Mr. Adams in this well-known cherished wish of his heart.” 
Yet an Observatory, under a feigned name, and restricted to 
the Navy Department instead of being made a national in- 
stitution, was established by act of that very Congress at that 
very session, without a division, or indeed any opposition in 
either House; and four years later the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion was organized essentially on the basis so often urged by 
him, although omitting the Observatory element, which was 
then no longer desirable, inasmuch as the end had been ob- 
tained by other means. * 
The bill introduced by the Naval Committee of the House 
of Representatives was read twice and disposed of by refer- 
ence to the Committee of the whole on the State of the 
Union. But on the 23d of June, a bill identical in its lan- 
guage with the one thus laid to rest was introduced in the 
Senate, as related by Lieutenant Gilliss in the extract which 
I have presented from his report. This passed. through the 
several stages of legislation in due order, without hindrance 
or objection; went: to the House on the 30th July; was 
referred to the same committee as before; but as a Senate 
bill was treated with courtesy. It was reported back without 
discussion, passed by the House without debate, and on the 
31st August, 1842, became a law. 
Thus was established the. present Naval Observatory; 
owing, like all progressive steps in our country, at least, to the 
combination of many influences, and the gradual education 
of the community by a few leading intellects, —yet how large 
a share in the work was due to Gilliss, this history will show- 
: His useful observations, together with his excellent adminis- 
of the affairs of the Depot of Charts and Instruments, 
: _® Gilliss’s Report, p. 65. 
