4 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



gress is now the largest in the United States, the scientific part of 

 which is rapidly becoming, through the Smithsonian exchanges, one 

 of the best of the kind in the world. Furthermore, Congress is now 

 about to erect a separate building for its accommodation. 



Previous to this union of the libraries, however, an appropriation had 

 been made by Congress for improving the public ground between the 

 Potomac and the Capitol. Advantage was taken of this to include the 

 Smithsonian portion of these grounds in the general plan, and thus to 

 relieve the Institution froni the cost of its maintenance. 



The remaining drains upon the income, which continued to diminish 

 the active operations, were the care of the building and the maintenance 

 of the museum ; and the next step, therefore, was to induce Congess 

 to relieve the Institution from these. The results, in the mean time, of 

 the active operations having signally demonstrated the importance of 

 original research and publications, together with the general system 

 of exchanges which had been adopted, Congress finally lent a favorable 

 ear to the petition for appropriations sufficient to support the museum, 

 and now annually appropriates $15,000 to this purpose. 



In justice to the trust, however, the Government ought to do much 

 more than this. It should repay at least a portion of the $000,000 

 which have been expended on the building, erected in accordance with 

 the instruction of Congress, and far exceeding in cost an edifice wanted 

 for the legitimate objects of the Institution. The j>roper course to adopt 

 would be for Congress to take entire possession of the building for 

 the National Museum, repay the Smithson fund, say $300,000, adding 

 6200,000 of this to the principal of the trust-fund, and applying the 

 remainder to the erection of a separate building, consisting of offices, 

 laboratories, store-rooms, &c, required for the present use of the 

 Institution. 



The only other requirement of Congress which has not been fully met 

 is that of a gallery of a»t. It is true the Institution owns a very valu- 

 able collection of specimens of the early masters to illustrate the prog- 

 ress of the art of engraving, and some articles of painting and sculp- 

 ture, which may be considered as forming the commencement of a gal- 

 lory of art; but the expense of supporting a collection of this kind has 

 been obviated by the establishment in this city of a gallery of art by 

 the liberality of Mr. W. W. Corcoran, with an income larger than all of 

 that from the Smithson fund. 



Notwithstanding the various burdens which have interfered with the 

 lull development of the plan of active operations, it is through this plan 

 that the Institution has made itself known throughout every part of 

 the civilized world! The publications which result from the facilities 

 it has afforded to original research are to be found in all the principal 

 libraries, and its specimens in all the great public museums of the 

 world. And it is hoped that in future, with the appropriations of Con- 



