8 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



sessed. [n this point of view the bequest assumes an interest of the 

 highest order, peculiar to itself, most happily adapted to the character 

 of our republican institutions, and destined, if administered in the spirit 

 in which it was bestowed, to command the grateful acclamations of 

 future ages." No restriction is made as to any kind of knowledge ; but 

 it is knowledge, the source of all human wisdom and beneficent power, 

 which is to be increased and diffused; "knowledge, which as far tran- 

 scends the postulated lever of Archemides, as the universe transcends 

 this speck of earth upon its face ; knowledge, the attribute of Omnipo- 

 tence, of which man alone, in the physical and material world, is per- 

 mitted to participate." Let not, then, any branch or department of 

 human knowledge be excluded from its equitable, share of this bene- 

 faction. Again, no nation, community, or class of men, is designated 

 as the special recipient of this bounty ; and it would be inconsistent 

 with the self-respect of a great confederated nation to receive, from the 

 hands of a foreigner, a liberal fund for the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge throughout the world of man, and to apply it exclusively to 

 its own purposes. 



The Regents, at their first session, conscious of the importance and 

 magnitude of the trust confided to them, and of the responsibilities which 

 devolved upon them, gave to the whole subject attentive and laborious 

 consideration. They were impressed with the fact that the object of 

 the law was to carry out the will of Smithson, and if there were any 

 doubtful points, it was their duty to construe them with a view to this 

 object. In conformity with this a plan was adopted, which, while it 

 fulfilled all the requirements of the law, was in strict accordance with 

 a logical interpretation of the will of the donor. This plan, after seven 

 years' experience, has been found to realize all the hopes and anticipa- 

 tions which were entertained in regard to it by its most sanguine advo- 

 cates ; and, though it was adopted provisionally, to be changed or 

 modified as circumstances might indicate, yet no essential alteration 

 has been considered necessary by those best acquainted with its ope- 

 rations. It is true that it is not, perhaps, in all respects, the simplest 

 plan which could have been designed for- carrying out the will of the 

 testator ; and had the Regents been entirely unrestricted, they would 

 probably have devoted a less portion of the income to local objects ; 

 but, under all the conditions of the problem, it is believed that it was 

 the best which could have been adopted to produce the desired result. 

 And it may not be too much to say, that the present condition of the 

 Institution, as to general reputation and financial prosperity, is much 

 more favorable than experience in the management of public trusts 

 would reasonably have led us to anticipate. 



All the requirements of the act of Congress, in the opinion of the Re- 

 gents, have been faithfully and fully observed. Liberal provision has 

 been made for the accommodation of a library, a museum, and a gal- 

 lery of art, with lecture rooms and a laboratory, in the construction of 

 a building which has cost $300,000. A library has been commenced 

 and means devised for its continual extension, which will soon form the 

 best special collection of valuable works pertaining to all branches of 

 positive knowledge to be found in this country. The books which it 

 now contains, if estimated by the prices paid for those which have 



