The Smithsonian Institution. 19 
struction of the words of Smithson’s will, viz, ‘the increase and 
diffusion of knowledge among men,” which we give in full, to 
exemplify the straits those are reduced to who contend that the 
founder's design e Uph omy be attained by a rebiies at Wash- 
ington. Says 5 Mr. 
‘“*'The words ‘among men’ were used merely to corroborate the idea 
expressed by the word ‘ diffusion.’ They do not necessarily imply that 
the Institution should confine meeit to world-wide ©. rations. The wor 
is not, as some seem to suppose, * mankind’ but * men’ and he diffuses 
knowledge ‘ among men’ as truly, and in as full a a sense, when he en- 
lightens the minds ‘of his neighbors, as of persons at the very farthest 
ole.” 
Really would not this construction be about as good a as now, 
even if the word ‘ mankind” had been used, instead of ‘men ?” 
And although the words “do not necessarily imply that the In- 
or should confine itself to world-wide operations,” —an od 
of confinement indeed,—do they not oe nt it should ez- 
tend itself “to world-wide operations?” Agait 
“The word ‘1ncreASE’ is held by some of the zealous combatants 
in the Smithsonian controversy to be identical with ‘ piscovery.’ 
although all the ideas it has received may be in the commonest text- 
ooks. There has been an increase of knowledge in the school, or the 
congregation, or the lecture-room, if ideas not ‘before known to them 
have been received into the minds of the hearers, even ; indeed it mat- 
ters not if those ideas have been recorded for thousands of years in lan- 
guages, classical or sacred, that have been dead longago. Knowledge 
een increased if one mind has received more, whether it be new 
or old truth. The language of Smithson is perfectly simple, and in its 
discovered yesterday. Knowledge embraces it all alike, and Smithson’s 
object was to carry knowledge where it was not before, and to increase 
it where it was; to spread it over a wide area and to a greater depth.”” 
We would only ask; if the communication of known facts 
and ideas from one to another constitutes ‘ the increase of knowl- 
edge” in the sense of Smithson’s will, then what did Smithson 
intend, and what does Mr. Upham mean, by “ the diffusion of 
knowledge?” 
To show the impropriety of publishing memoirs, like those in 
the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, a fear is expressed 
that favoritism will be practiced, injury inflicted on some individ- 
uals through a condemnation of their treatises by “a secret tribu- 
nal,” resentments enkindled, and perhaps important discoveries be 
~ suppressed. With more reason might the same complaint be 
