38 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Jan. 
Norman or rather Lombard, as it prevailed in the 
twelfth century, cheifiy in Germany, Normandy and in 
southern Europe, immediately preceding the introduc¬ 
tion of the Gothic; and that all expenditures connected 
with ‘he building, including the laying out of the 
grounds, planting, fencing, &c. &c., may be comprised 
within the limit set, namely $250,000. 
We find by the report of the executive committee, 
that the whole amount of Mr. Smithson’s property, re¬ 
ceived into the treasury of the United States, was 
$515,169.00; that the interest which had accrued on 
the same. u;> to July, 1846, when the funds were placed 
under the direction of the Board of Regents, was 
$242,129,00; that, owing to the excellent system of 
finance adopted by the Board of Regents, the interests 
accruing on this fund, will so far exceed the expendi¬ 
tures, of every kind, as to enable them to complete 
the building, and put the institution into full operation 
by March, 1852—that there will then be a residue of 
interest of $142,000.00, to be added to the original 
bequest, ($515,169.00) making the permanent fund 
for the institution, of 657,000.00—which will yield an 
annual income of $39,420.00 for the increase and dif¬ 
fusion of knowledge. 
It is but just to remark, Messrs. Editors, that the 
report of Mr. Jewett, the assistant secretary, relative 
to the library, is a very interesting, perspicuous and 
able document, and is highly creditable to him. I would 
gladly notice his report more full}', and give some fine 
extracts from it, did my limits permit. 
The Regents very justly deduce the following propo¬ 
sitions from the will of Mr. Smithson, as prominent 
rules to guide their practice in dispensing the funds of 
this institution: 
1. The bequest is intended for the benefit of men in 
general, and its influence ought not to be restricted to 
a single district, or even nation. 
2. The objects of the institution are: first to in - 
crease , and second, to diffuse knowledge among men. 
3. The will makes no restriction in favor of any par¬ 
ticular kind of knowledge. 
11 To restrict, therefore the operations of the institu¬ 
tion to a single science or art, would do injustice to the 
character of the donor, as well as to the cause of 
general knowledge. If preference is to be given to any 
branches of research, it should be to the higher, and 
apparently more abstract. This is true even in a prac¬ 
tical point of view. Agriculture would have for ever 
remained an empyrical art, had it not been for the light 
shed upon it by the atomic theory of chemistry; and 
incomparably more is to be expected as to its future 
advancement from the perfection of the microscope, 
than from improvements in the ordinary instruments of 
husbandry.” 
To increase know'ledge, it is proposed:— 
1. To stimulate men of talents to make original re¬ 
searches, by offering suitable rew'ards for memoirs con¬ 
taining new truths. 
2. To appropriate annually a portion of the ineome 
for particular researches, under the direction of com¬ 
petent and suitable persons. 
Among the great variety of subjects proposed for 
investigation, I noticed that the following are already 
engaging the attention of the Board of Regents: 
The ancient monuments of the Mississippi valley; 
five separate memoirs on astronomical subjects, afford¬ 
ing important additions to the science; a systematic 
and extensive series of meteorological observations, 
particularly with reference to the phenomena of Amer¬ 
ican storms; a series of observations on the tempera¬ 
ture and velocity of the Gulf Stream; the botany of 
Oregon, with drawings and engravings; and a collec¬ 
tion of facts relative to the variations of the compass, 
to be presented in a series of maps. 
To diffuse knowledge, it is proposed;— 
1. To publish a series of periodical reports on the 
progress of the different branches of knowledge. 
2. To publish occasionally separate treatises on sub¬ 
jects of general interest. 
Among the subjects soon to be reported, I notice 
that arrangements are being made to publish the fol- 
lowing: 
Reports on the present state of chemistry as applied 
to agriculture; on the forest trees of North America, 
giving their uses, mode of propagation, and their his¬ 
tory; on the present state of our knowledge of light¬ 
ning, and the best means of guarding against accidents 
from its effects, &c. &c. 
I have become very much interested in the plans and 
designs of this institution, for establishing a system of 
extended meteorological observations for solving the 
proplem of American storms. There is scarcely any 
object of scientific research of more general interest, 
or likely to be productive of more beneficial effects than 
that which relates to the phenomena of our storms. 
Within a few years past, in our country, several im¬ 
portant principles have been established, and some 
well delned theories have been recently proposed, by 
which attention may now be directed to many different 
points of observation that cannot fail of being attended 
with important results. The observations of Mr. Red- 
field, in particular, have been wonderfully exact, ex¬ 
tensive and scientific; his theories are very attractive 
to the scientific inquirer, and numerous facts and ob¬ 
servations by others, seem to como in to his support. 
The Smithsonian institution proposes to organize a sys¬ 
tem of observations which shall extend as far as possi¬ 
ble over the North American continent. In order to do 
this, they have invited the co-operation of the British 
government; and have obtained their assurance that as 
soon as the plan is fully matured for this country, no 
difficulty shall be in the way of establishing a system 
of corresponding observations in the British provinces. 
Prof. Loomis, of New York University, has sub¬ 
mitted to the institution a very interesting report. It 
contains an exposition of the advantages to be derived 
from the study of meteorology, and what has been al¬ 
ready done in this branch of science in this country, 
the encouragements for a further prosecution of the 
subject, together with a plan of operations. 
In order to present a general view of the subject, in 
a condensed form, I have gathered up from his some¬ 
what extended report, a few of the more prominent 
points, using nearly his own language. They are as 
follows: 
I. The advantages to society of the study of mete¬ 
orology. 
Very little argument is needed to prove that our com¬ 
fort and convenience, not unfrequently our lives and 
property, are dependent upon meteorological pheno¬ 
mena. This is proverbially true of the mariner. His 
life often depends upon the fidelity with which, he 
watches every change in the aspect of the sky. The 
number of disasters upon the sea is frightful, and is 
far greater than is generally known. In the gale of 
December 15, 1839, eighty-nine vessels were wi’ecked 
on the Massachusetts coast; and of these, sixty-one on 
a single cape. In the great hurricane of 178U, thirteen 
battle-ships were lost, and sixteen more dismasted. 
England and America alone suffer an annual loss from 
wrecks of more than 1000 vessels, and nearly one-half 
of this is on the xlmerican coast. The farmer, too, is 
directly dependent upon the weather for the consum¬ 
mation of his plans, almost equally with the sailor. Se¬ 
vere drouth or excessive rains, untimely frosts or a 
scorching sun, may blast all the hopes of the husband¬ 
man. If we can anticipate the general character of a 
season, the farmer may regulate his time of planting or 
the nature of his crops, so as to be least injuriously af¬ 
fected by unpropitious weather; so that, if we cannot 
strip the lightning of its power, w r e may at least direct 
it harmlessly to the earth. 
