THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 
13 
of great scientific value was being constantly received at Wash- 
ington. By 1845 there was already a large accumulation which 
was cared for at the Patent Office, primarily under the custody 
of the National Institute but later under that of the Commis- 
sioner of Patents. It was time to consider the founding of a 
national museum, and the bequest of Smithson furnished the 
opportunity. Unfortunately, it was the supposition of Con- 
gress that the annual interest of $30,000, the income then yielded 
by the Smithsonian fund, would provide for the accommodation 
and maintenance of the national collections, besides covering 
the expenses of all other objects with which the Institution had 
been charged. This error was subsequently recognized but not 
wholly corrected until after the expenditure of nearly half a 
million dollars, none of which has been refunded to the Institu- 
tion, in the erection of the large building and the care of the 
Government collections during a period of twenty years. 
While the art side of the Museum was not destined to prosper 
for many years, it is interesting to note that the first collection 
purchased from the Smithsonian fund, even before the comple- 
tion of the building, was a large series of engravings and etch- 
ings, the finest of its kind which, up to that time, had been 
brought to this country. The building up of a gallery of the 
fine arts requires considerable means for purchasing or the aid 
of many friends as benefactors, and the museum which can 
count on both is indeed fortunate. The Institution has received 
help from neither source except to a very limited extent. Con- 
gress has declined to appropriate funds for such a purpose, and 
until lately individuals generally have been reluctant to con- 
tribute to what they denominate the Government, failing to 
appreciate that, in fact, the museum belongs to the nation. 
A better understanding of the situation is now beginning to 
prevail. 
The Government has, however, been exceedingly liberal in 
the development of the natural resources of the country, and 
before the establishment of the Institution, as already intimated, 
it had entered upon the extensive explorations which were to 
aid so materially in the opening up of the great West. While, 
therefore, funds were not supplied for the increase equally of 
the several departments of the museum, opportunities were 
