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race. Yet it is a melancholy fact thiit, notwithstanding the reputation 
for wealth and intelligence poss.jaaed by our people, for the only 
institution intended especially for the advancement of science in this 
country we are indebted to a foreigner, James Smithson, and tliat a 
very large portion of the income of tliis has wrongfully been devoted 
to the erection of a coatly edifice and the embellishment of grounds, 
and expenditures on other local objects unnecessary for the realization 
of the intentions of the founder. I am happy, however, to say that 
after 25 years of incessant efforts in one line by the directors, Con- 
gress has at length been induced to indicate an intention of redressing 
the evil, and enabling the establishment to devote its whole energies 
to the advance of science, the evident design of the testator. New 
York at present is the wealthiest, most powerful, and influential city 
of the Union, and is destined in the future to be more so. But do 
not be oflfended with rae if I say in perfect candor and with the desire 
of doing good, that it has done less than any other city, in proportion 
to its means, to advance science. More than 75 years ago, Boston 
established the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which an- 
nually ever since, has given to the world the residt of original labors 
in the way of new discoveries. 
Philadelphia before the revolution, under the auspices of Frankhn, 
established the American Philosophical Society, which has still a vig- 
orous existence, and continues to annually send its transactions to 
foreign societies in e.Kchange for theirs. New-York, also, more than 
50 years ago, commenced to establish a Philosophical Society, which 
expired, however, in giving birth to a single memoir by De Witt 
Clinton on the importance and value of such an establishment, it is 
also true that among .so many people there have been some ^^^^ "^^^ 
been zealously devoted to science, and have done honor to it and t e 
world, such as a Redfield (I speak only of the dead), who established 
the laws of storms, and a Torrey, who devoted an unobtrusive, mrtus- 
triousand productive life, to the advance of chemistry mineralogy, 
and botany. Boast not of wealth, nor of refinement, while origina 
powers of inteUect, the choicest gift of heaven to man, is at a d.scoun^ 
among yo,,. I appeal to the millionaires of this city, i 
them is desirous of perpetuating his name and of Imng in t e 
of mankind long after he has departed this life, to endow, coiuieoted 
with the Park Museum, a College of Discoveries, with the additional 
