[ 108 ] 8 



be received in accruing interest or otherwise, upon the same tetms as 

 those on which the original bequest had been accepted. This petition 

 was referred to a committee and favorably reported upon, but unfortunately 

 the press of business prevented Congress from acting upon it at their 

 last session. The petition will again be renewed, and it is believed that 

 so reasonable a request will meet with a favorable reception. It is, how- 

 ever, thought important that the amount should be increased, and that the 

 sum of $250,000 be inserted in the petition, instead of that named in the 

 resolution. 



In addition to the $150,000 which the regents thus seek to invest, there 

 is still a portion of the original legacy remaining in England as the princi- 

 pal of an annuity settled upon Madame De la Batut, the mother of the 

 nephew^ of Smithson, to whom bis property was originally bequeathed. 

 Besides this, I am informed, upon good authority, that the Institution is the 

 contingent legatee of an estate of considerable magnitude, depending on 

 the demise without issue of a single individual. We may also reasonably 

 expect that if the affairs of the Institution are properly conducted, and its 

 funds judiciously husbanded or properly expended on the legitimate objects 

 of the bequest, other trusts will be committed to its care. It therefore 

 becomes important that the limit should be at least $250,000, so that the 

 whole sum, including the original bequest, shall amount to a little more 

 than $750,000. There can surely be no just grounds of fear that the in- 

 come of this sum will be devoted to improper uses, so long as it is an essen- 

 tial part of the plan to produce fruits, the value of which can be judged by all 

 who are capable of appreciating the advance of knowledge. This request 

 is also in accordance with the policy adopted by the Institution of asking 

 nothing from Congress but the safe keeping of its funds, and the appoint- 

 ment to its board of regents of gentlemen of intelligence and high moral 

 principles. 



The government has thus far liberally fulfilled the obligations which it 

 imposed upon itself in accepting the trust. Not only has the original sum 

 been permanently invested in the treasury of the United States, but interest 

 has been allowed from the time of receiving the funds. Congress has also 

 made several donations to the Institution, which, though they will not 

 prove as valuable to us as could be wished, indicate a liberal intention. The 

 first gift was the great museum of the Exploring Expedition, for the accom- 

 modation of which the larger portion of the present building was origi- 

 nally intended ; the second was a grant of nineteen acres of land surround- 

 ing the building of the Institution; the third, a copy of every book 

 published in the United States for which a copyright might be granted; the 

 fourth and last gift was that of ail the plates, manuscripts, &c, of the 

 Exploring Expedition, for the purpose of publishing a new edition for dis- 

 tribution. 



These donations, though made with kindly feelings and in a spirit of 

 liberality, have proved singularly unprofitable. The maintenance of the 

 museum of the Exploring Expedition would subject the Institution to an 

 annual expense which would materially interfere with more important 

 operations. After expending several thousand dollars on the improvement 

 oi the grounds, it has been deemed best to return them to the charge of 

 the ge.iera! government. Were the copyright act fully complied with, 

 perhaps some benefit might accrue from it to the Institution ; but in the 

 manner in which it is at present observed, the expense of postage and of 



