REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 7 



has thus furnished the means of perpetuating his memory far more 

 effectually than could be done by architectural or other local monu- 

 ments, however ample in dimensions or comprehensive in desfgn. 



Instead of being, as has been supposed, adverse or neutral as 

 regards the interests of the city of Washington, it has given it a 

 reputation as a centre of scientific operations, and has led to a series 

 of improvements which, in time, cannot do otherwise than promote 

 its renown and add to its prosperity. It does not oppose an antago- 

 nism to the local objects before mentioned, but seeks to establish 

 them on a more liberal scale by other instrumentalities. While it has 

 distributed its publications and specimens with unprecedented liber- 

 ality, it has been fully repaid with articles of a similar character. 

 Through its exchanges it has collected a library of scientific refer- 

 ence superior to any in this country, and equal to any which can be 

 found abroad . As soon as Congress shall furnish the means of support- 

 ing a national museum, it will supply this with all the foreign and 

 domestic specimens necessary for comparison and illustration. 



The two systems, at first carried on harmoniously, though in a 

 limited way and not without mutual embarrassment, were soon 

 found in practice to be radically incompatible with each other. As 

 it was impossible suitably to control the expenditure on the local 

 objects, it has been the constant policy of the Directory of the Insti- 

 tution to obtain relief from these burdens. It was in accordance with 

 this that the government was solicited to resume the care of the 

 grounds, on which had been expended annually a considerable por- 

 tion of the income, and to make these grounds part of a general 

 park extending from the Capitol to the Potomac. It was for this 

 purpose that the Institution was instrumental in procuring the ser- 

 vices of Mr. Downing, whose plan of the grounds in question would 

 have been completed had not the work been interrupted by his un- 

 timely death. This work, we trust, will soon be resumed under 

 more favorable auspices. 



It was also in accordance with the policy under consideration that 

 the valuable library which, from its rapid increase by exchanges, had 

 already exceeded the means at the disposal of the Institution for its 

 support, was incorporated with that of Congress. 



Happily the necessity for supporting a gallery of art has been ob- 

 viated by the enlightened munificence of a citizen of Washington, W. 

 W. Corcoran, esq., who has erected a building and made provision 

 for the support of such an establishment to which the collections in 

 this department already formed by the Institution may be trans- 

 ferred. 



