• 16 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



materials for the interior of the main building, instead of wood and 

 plaster, which were originally intended. 



It is to be regretted that a design so costly was adopted ; hut the 

 law of Congress evidently contemplated an expensive building, and 

 placed no restriction on the Eegents as to cost or plan, except the 

 preservation of the principal of the bequest. 



From the report of the Executive Committee it will be seen that not 

 only has this restriction been observed, but that, notwithstanding the 

 enhanced expenditure, a considerable augmentation of the fund has 

 been effected. The original $515,000, received from the bequest of 

 Smithson, is still in the treasury of the United States; and, after 

 the present debt on the building shall have been discharged, there 

 will remain in the hands of the treasurer the sum of $125,000 of unex- 

 pended interest. Though this is a favorable condition of the finances, 

 yet caution in the expenditure is still imperatively required. We 

 /should not forget that the ordinary expenses of the Institution have 

 / constantly increased ; and that, whilst the nominal income has re- 

 mained the same, the value of money has depreciated ; and, conse- 

 quently, the capability of the original bequest to produce results has 

 been abridged in a corresponding proportion. Besides, when the 

 building is entirely occupied, the expense of warming, attendance, 

 &c, must necessarily be much increased beyond its present amount. 

 The repairs, on account of the peculiar style of architecture adopted, 

 will ever be a heavy item of expenditure. The several pinnacles, 

 buttresses, and intersecting roofs, all afford points of peculiar ex- 

 posure to the injuries of the weather. In this connexion, I cannot 

 help again expressing the hope that Congress will, in due time, relieve 

 the Institution from the support of this building, and that it will ulti- 

 mately appropriate at least the greater part of it to a national museum, 

 for the general accommodation of all the specimens of natural history 

 and of art, which are now accumulating in the Capital of the nation. 

 The two wings and connecting ranges would be quite sufficient for all 

 the operations of the Institution, and a large portion of the funds now 

 absorbed in the incidental expenses, which have been mentioned, could 

 be devoted to the more legitimate objects of the bequest. 



It was mentioned in a previous report that the rooms of the upper 

 story of the building were particularly arranged with a view to accom- 

 modate the meetings of literary, scientific, and other associations which 

 might assemble at the seat of government. During the past year the 

 following societies have availed themselves of the facilities thus af- 

 forded, viz : the United States Agricultural Society, the Metropolitan 

 Mechanics' Institute, a musical convention of the choirs in this city and 

 of persons invited from a distance, also a second convention under the 

 auspices of the Philharmonic Society of Washington. Besides these, 

 the Teachers' Association of the District of Columbia has held its 

 monthly meetings in this building, and the rooms have been frequently 

 occupied during a single evening for public purposes. The use of the 

 lecture-room is granted when the object for which it is asked is of 

 general public utility, and not of a party or sectarian character, or 

 intended to promote merely individual interests. 

 ' k Since the death of the lamented Downing, but little has been done 



