34 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



original research in the various branches of knowledge, and had doubt- 

 less a proper appreciation of the good which might be effected by 

 founding an institution especially adapted to advance this object. 

 He accordingly intrusted his property to the United States to found 

 an establishment " under the name of the Smithsonian Institution for the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." He evidently did not 

 intend by these precise terms to found a library or a mere museum 

 for the diffusion of popular information to a limited community, but 

 a cosmopolitan establishment, to increase the sum of human knowledge 

 and to diffuse this to every part of the civilized world. No other 

 interpretation of the will is either in accordance with the terms em- 

 ployed or with the character and habits of the founder. The in- 

 crease of human knowledge, by which we must understand additions 

 to its sum, would be of but little value without its diffusion, and to 

 limit the latter to one city, or even to one country, would be an in- 

 vidious restriction of the term men. These views, so evident to 

 minds especially devoted to science, were not at onoe apparent to 

 those whose studies and pursuits had been chiefly confined to litera- 

 ture or public affairs. The first scheme which was presented in re- 

 gard to the character of the future institution proposed that it should 

 assume the form of a university, but this idea was shown to be er- 

 roneous by the Hon. J. Q. Adams, who pointed out the fact that the 

 object of a university was not to increase knowledge, but to diffuse 

 that which already exists. The next proposition, which had many 

 advocates, was that of a large library or museum; but these objects 

 are in a measure local in their influence and tend, like the former, to 

 promote rather the diffusion than the increase of knowledge. 



From this diversity of opinion as to the character of the proposed 

 Institution, or from whatever other causes, the bequest was suffered 

 to remain inoperative for eight years. It was not until 184G that 

 Congress passed the act of organization under which the Institution 

 has since continued in operation. 



This act directs that provision be made for a library, museum, and 

 gallery of art, in a suitable building of plain and durable materials, and 

 after these and some other general indications of the views of the 

 legislature, leaves it discretionary with the Board of Regents to 

 adopt such further measures for promoting the common purpose as 

 might seem, in their judgment, best to comport with the terms of the 

 donation. 



I may be permitted to state, without giving undue prominence to 

 my own part in the organization, that immediately after the passage 



