6 The Smithsonian Institution. 
knowledge among men” is to be furthered. And if the lat 
il 
for? All this, it appears to us, is plainly left to the wise discre- 
tion of the managers of the Institution, subject only to the limi- 
tation contained in the eighth section, fixing a certain but very 
biek maximum limit to the sum which may be expended on the 
ibrary. 
The interpretation of this clause, however, is the turning point 
of the controversy. The Board of Regents have all along 
sumed this clause, directing an appropriation not exceeding 
