8 The Smithsonian Institution. 
departments of knowledge, to the payment for lectures deliver 
a substitute. This resolution, for which we are indebted to Mr. 
Meacham’s Dissenting Report (Doc. 20, 5), is as follows: 
** Resolved, That it is the intention of the act of Congress sstablg 
ing the Institution, and in accordance with the design of Mr. Dy 
and objects of natural history and of elegant art, and the gradual pide 
tion of a library of valuable works pertaining to all departments of hu 
man knowledge, to the end t that a copious storehouse of materials of 
fuse the love of learning among men, and shall assist the original inves- 
tigations and efforts of ‘those who may devote eer to the pursuit 
of any branch of knowledge.” 
It merely affirms that the library, the museum, and a gallery 
— art constitute “one of the principal modes of executing 
and trust.” It does not deny that the “ active operations” 
ia tee a legal, or even a proper mode. ‘That denial is more 
recent. 
he experience of six years having rendered it doubtful 
whether this absolute division of the income into two equal — 
parts, irrespective of circumstances as they occur, was practically — 
the best mode that could be devised, in March, 1853, a special 
committee of seven was raised to consider this subject. This 
committee made its report on the 20th of May, 1854, by its chait- 
man, Mr. Pearce, ali the members concurring except Mr. Meacham, 
who had replaced Mr. Choate on the committee a few months 
previous. ‘I'he report, (Doc. No. 4,) after a general view of the | 
character, condition, and operations of the Institution, actual and 
ospective, submitted two resolves ; the first, repealing the resO- 
lutions passed in January, 1847, and then about to come into” 
effect, which required an equal division of the income between the 
active operations on the one hand and the museum and library 08 
the other; the second requiring ‘‘ That hereafter the annual ap- 
propriations shall be apportioned specifically among the different — 
objects and operations of the Institution in such manner as may, — 
in the judgment of the Regents, be necessary and — for 
- each, to its intrinsic importance, and in co 
: 
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3 
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