put into your hands the large legacy of Mr. Smithson, to erect with it grand build¬ 
ings, make a great parade, and fail in the end as so many others have done. That 
cannot be expected to be done until your society has become firmly established on 
a solid basis, and has acquired that high reputation which I hope it will always 
have in view in the learned world; but, in the mean time. Congress might, out of 
the interest, aid your exertions in proportion to your progress, and, at least, in the 
beginning, enable you to make those publications without which you cannot well 
expect to proceed. Thus your institution would grow under their fostering hand, 
and, in process of time, the great design of Mr. Smithson would be completely 
fulfilled. I say, in process of time, for time will certainly be required, before yon 
can rise to the rank in science which you may justly keep in view. In my opin¬ 
ion, you should not attempt too much at once, but proceed gradually and system¬ 
atically, being satisfied with every year showing to the world some progress, but 
not imagine that your institution, as I hope it will one day be, will come out at 
once, fully armed, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter. Trust, therefore, to 
time, but let it be aided by your zeal, your activity, and, above all, by your en¬ 
ergy. Energy is the soul of all great undertakings, but it must be continued, and 
never suffered to flag. 
Here you have, in as brief a space as I could condense them, my opinions, my 
wishes, and my hopes. Let me, therefore, conclude with the wish of father Paul, 
which, alas ! was not fulfilled as to his Republic, but I hope will apply with more 
truth to your institution, “ Esto perpetua !” 
I am, with great regard and esteem, 
PETER S. DUPONCEAU. 
Stated Meeting, December 14, 1840. 
Present, thirty members. 
Hon. Joel R. Poinsett in the Chair. 
The following donations were received : 
The Journal of Natural History. Published by the Boston 
Society of Natural History. Vol. 3, No. 3. (On motion of 
the Hon. Levi Lincoln.) — From the Society . 
Catalogue of the Library of the American Antiquarian So¬ 
ciety. Boston.— From the Society. 
Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society. Boston.-— 
From the same. 
Specimen of the wood of the Aloe Tree. Palm nuts from 
Liberia. —From G. R. Barry, U. S, Navy , 
