42 BEVIEWS — EEPOET OE THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



eminent in the respective branches be employed, that they be fur- 

 nished with journals and other necessary publications, and that they 

 be paid a certain sum for their labors. 



In virtue of the Act of Congress, the Secretary and his assistants, 

 during the session of Congress, will be required to illustrate new 

 discoveries in science and to exhibit new objects of art ; distinguished 

 individuals will also be invited to give lectures on subjects of general 

 interest. 



On the occasion of the meeting of the Eegents in 1847, it was 

 resolved to divide the income into two equal parts ; one to be appro- 

 priated to increase and diffuse knowledge agreeably to the scheme 

 above given ; and the other part to be appropriated to the formation 

 of a library and a collection of objects of nature and of art. 



This resolution was, however, rescinded at the meeting of January, 

 1855, when it was determined that 



" The annual appropriations should be apportioned specially among the differ 

 ent objects and operations of the institution, in such manner as might, in the 

 judgment of the Regents, be necessary and proper for each, according to its in- 

 trinsic importance, and a compliance in good faith with the law." 



Admirably adapted as the foregoing scheme would seem to be for 

 carrying out lond fide, the design of the founder, efforts have been 

 made by some persons to divert from their legitimate channel the 

 funds destined for cosmopolitan purposes, and to expend them on 

 objects of a comparatively local character The good sense and 

 honorable feeling of the nation have, however, triumphed, and will, 

 it is hoped, insure the permanence of the institution on its present 

 footing. The mode of procedure adopted by the Regents in con- 

 ducting the affairs of the institution having been brought under the 

 notice of Congress in 1855, the matter was referred to a Special 

 Committee of the House of Representatives and to the Judiciary 

 Committee of the Senate. In reporting subsequently on the matter 

 the Judiciary Committee unanimously approved of the acts of the 

 Regents in construing the law of Congress, in interpreting the 

 will of Smithson, and in what they had done in the way of increas- 

 ing and diffusing knowledge among men. 



In the verdict of the Judiciary Committee we find the following 

 language : 



(Referring to the legacy). "It is not bequeathed to the United States to be 

 used for their own benefit and advantage only, but in trust to apply to the in- 

 crease and diffusion of knowledge among mankind generally, so that other men 

 and other nations might ehare iu its advantages as well as ourselves." 



