THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 133 



light publications of the day, obtained through the copyright a w 

 are perused principally by young persons." At another time their 

 grievance is that they are forced to become the recipients and custo- 

 diers of a strange variety of live animals forwarded by government 

 and private explorers, including " two bald eagles, monkeys, two 

 wild cats, a jaguar, and a large grizzly bear from the rocky moun- 

 tains 1" The latest printed report is that for 1862, though including 

 some early proceedings of 1863 ; but its novel grievance indicates 

 the change of circumstances, which has, no doubt, contributed to 

 delay the issue of any later report. In it Professor Henry is found 

 in correspondence with Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary at "War, in 

 reference to thirty-three boxes and one bundle of books, maps, 

 papers, and other articles, taken by the United States forces in 

 South Carolina, and forwarded to the Smithsonian Institution by the 

 Transportation Company ; and also the library of Bishop Johns, 

 brought in loose volumes, by army waggons, from Alexandria. Of 

 those the Board of Eegents are required to become the curators 

 *• until the termination of the present war ;" and the Secretary re- 

 ports his interview with the War Secretary, relative to the important 

 question of funds for defraying the expenses incident to such an un- 

 expected mode of increasing and dilFusing knowledge among men. 



It is curious indeed, and still more sad, to perceive in how many ways 

 the terrible evils incident to warfare involve in their remote results 

 the most beneficent cosmopolitan institutions, disturbing the quiet 

 student in the retirement of his study, and converting the laboratory 

 and work-room of the peaceful man of science into workshops of war. 

 The Smithsonian Institution, administering the bequest of a deceased 

 man of science for the benefit of the civilised world, might seem 

 peculiarly protected from the recoil of foreign or domestic strife ; 

 yet, on the 31st of January, 186-i, the Board of Eegents is found 

 recording this resolution : " That the secretary be directed to inform 

 the Congress of the United States, that George E. Badger, one of 

 the Eegents of the Institution, has not attended the recent meetings 

 of the Board, and they are advised that he is now in rebellion 

 against the Government of the United States, and submit whether 

 the name of said Badger should longer remain on the list of Eegents 

 of said Institution." Most earnestly do we hope that the time is 

 not far distant when the renewed activity of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, and of all other societies throughout the United States 

 devoted to science and letters, will afford gratifying evidence that 



