25 [211] 



cially deficient in the libraries of our country, the vacancy may be filled. 

 The librarian might also procure, by entering into correspondence with 

 the librarians of other countries, any special extracts or items of informa- 

 ;ion required by students. 



Your committee consider it inexpedient to commence the regular pur- 

 chase of books until about a year before the time when the building is 

 prepared to receive them. Meanwhile, lists and catalogues should be 

 procured. 



For the procurement of chemical and philosophical apparatus, models, 

 &c., your committee recommend, for the present, an appropriation of four 

 thousand dollars. If the funds permit, four thousand dollars more, your 

 committee think, might profitabljr be appropriated for this object before 

 the opening of the institution. 



Inasmuch as the Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution, being a 

 regent, can receive no salary for his services, it results, almost necessarily, 

 that the Secretary should become its chief executive officer. The char- 

 ter seems to have intended that he should occupy a very responsible po- 

 sition ; granting as it does to the Secretary, in conjunction with the 

 Chancellor, the power to determine the necessity and the amount of ap- 

 propriations made for the purposes of the Institution. 



The office of Secretary must, in the opinion of your committee, be re- 

 garded not as one to be filled by any man capable to act as recording 

 clerk; or to receive with politeness the visitors of the Institution, or to re- 

 ply, with mechanical propriety, to its correspondents, but as an office on 

 the due administration of which the executive efficiency of our institu- 

 tion at home and its reputation abroad mainly depend ; an office, then, 

 demanding, in its incumbent, weight of character and a high grade of 

 talent. 



To secure such stamp of talent as your committee consider essential 

 in a Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, it may be necessary to at- 

 tach to the office a considerable salary. The best talent, in any country, 

 ever commands a high remuneration ; and though money cannot always 

 command talent, it is, as a general rule, one of the elements necessary to 

 obtain it. Inadequate character and qualifications are not worth purchas- 

 ing at any rate, no matter how low. The money spent to procure them 

 is utterly cast away. 



Your committee think it would be an advantage if a competent Secre- 

 tary could be found, combining als® the qualifications of a professor of 

 the highest standing in some branch of science. If to these be added 

 efficiency as an executive officer and a knowledge of the world, we may 

 hope to see filling ihis distinguished post a man who, when brought into 

 communication with distinguished men and societies in this and other 

 countries, shall be capable, as representative of the Smithsonian, rnstitu- 

 tion, to reflect honor on the office, not requiring to borrow distinction 

 from it. 



Your comimittee will not withhold their opinion, that upon the choice 

 of this single officer, more probably than on any one other act of the 

 boaid, will depend the future good name, and success and usefulness, of 

 the Smithsonian Institution. 



A similar view, your committee believe, has been taken of this matter 

 by the principal scientific societies throughout the world. Newton dis- 

 dained not to answer, at much length, the friendly and able criticisms on 



