158 Scientific Intelligence. 



2. The Smithsonian Institution, 1846-1896. The History of 

 its First Half Century. Edited by George Brown Goode, 856 

 pp. City ot Washington, 1897. — The Secretary of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution has chosen wisely in the method he has adopted 

 for commemorating the completion of the first fifty years of its 

 active work. A public meeting, gathering representatives from 

 other scientific institutions, might perhaps have given a greater 

 publicity to the event at the time, but it would have failed to 

 have the permanent character which is gained by the distribution 

 of this most interesting volume. It is well that the public at 

 large should be fully informed in regard to the founding of this 

 trust, the admirable way in which it is administered, and. the 

 widely different methods in which it is accomplishing the purpose 

 designed by Mr. Smithson — as stated in his will — " of founding 

 an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge 

 among men." Whether we consider the wise-minded and far- 

 sighted generosity of the donor, the exceptionally successful way 

 in which his plans have been carried out, or the high character 

 and ability of the three Secretaries and others in charge of the 

 work, the institution must be regarded as one entirely unique and 

 without parallel. 



The preparation of this volume has been unfortunately twice 

 interrupted by the death of those specially occupied upon it. 

 Dr. James C. Welling, one of the regents, undertook the edito- 

 rial supervision on the plan drawn up by Dr. G. Brown Goode, 

 but he died in September, 1894. The task was then assumed by 

 Dr. Goode himself in addition to his other arduous duties, but in 

 1896 his life of remarkable activity was prematurely closed. 

 Fortunately, however, at this time the manuscript was so far 

 advanced that it was possible to carry it through to completion 

 and to publish it without delay on the lines he had laid down. 



To Mr. Goode we owe several of the most interesting chapters 

 in the work. First, the description of the founding of the Insti- 

 tution (1835-1846); then that of the Establishment and the Board 

 of Regents, with brief sketches of each of them ; and, again, a 

 most interesting and appreciative account of the three Secretaries, 

 Joseph Henry, who was appointed in September, 1846, soon after 

 the Act of Congress establishing the Smithsonian Institution was 

 signed by President Polk, and who served until his death in 

 1878; then following him, Prof. Spencer F. Baird, who served 

 from 1878 to 1888 ; and finally the gifted gentleman who now 

 occupies the position, Prof. S. P. Langley. The extent, high 

 character and value of the scientific work accomplished by Henry 

 and Baird in their active lives, as well as that which has been and 

 is still being carried forward by Langley, are too well known and 

 appreciated to require special notice here. Another chapter by 

 Dr. Goode describes the Smithsonian building and grounds. 



The account of the generous and high-minded Englishman, 

 James Smithson, who founded this trust, is given by Prof. Lang- 

 ley and appropriately forms the opening chapter of the volume. 



