386 
PROCEEDINGS OF 
[1845. 
ponding Members, and of the Societies, Institutions, &c., at home and abroad, in 
correspondence with the National Institute. 
PETER FORCE, Vice President. 
FRANCIS MARKQE, Jr., Corresponding Setfy. 
JOHN K. TOWNSEND, Recording Secretary. 
GEORGE W. RIGGS, Jr., Treasurer . 
JOHN C. SPENCER, 'j 
JOHN NELSON, 
VVM. WILKINS, 
C. A. WICKLIFFE, 
LEVI WOODBURY, 
R. J. WALKER, 
J. J. A BERT, 
JOSEPH G. TOTTEN, f 
A. O. DAYTON, | 
M. F. MAURY, J 
Washington City, March 18, 1844. 
I Directors , ex-officio, on the 
f part of the Government. 
| Directors on the part of the 
National Institute. 
Memorial of the friends of science who attented the 
APRIL MEETING of THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 
To the Congress of the United States.-—The respectf ul Memorial of the friends of 
Science, assembled at the City of Washington, from various parts of the Union. 
The undersigned have come together at the capital of the United Slates, at the 
call of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science, with the purpose of 
communicating to each other the facts and reasonings in science which each one’s 
research might have suggested, and of interchanging views and opinions in regard 
to the progress of science in our country. 
While engrossed in this delightful and most profitable communion, we have had 
an opportunity to observe the results of the efforts made by the members of the 
National Institute for the advancement of science. Founded only four years 
since, they have already brought together valuable collections in natural history 
and in the arts. Connecting themselves with the Government, through the heads 
of Departments, who, by virtue of their offices, are directors of the Institute, they 
have voluntarily imposed restraints upon the operations of the Institute, which will 
preserve its national character, and prevent its being tributary to any local or sec¬ 
tional purpose. By making the Institute merely a trustee for the United States 
of the property which it possesses, and may hereafter acquire, they have proved 
that no sordid or interested views guided them in framing their constitution. The 
zeal and industry shown in making collections, the disinterestedness in the disposi¬ 
tion of them, would seem to deserve from the Government of the republic approval 
and encouragement. The value of the property already collected, although the 
existence of the Institute has been so short, is very great. And yet it has no 
building for the convenient exhibition of its treasures, or even for their safekeep¬ 
ing. And if articles of so much interest and value have already been collected, 
what may not be expected from the army, the navy, and friends of science gen- 
eraily, in the long reach of years to come, if a suitable place can be provided for 
their preservation and exhibition. But how are the means of providing such a 
building to be obtained ? If attained at all for such a purpose by voluntary con¬ 
tributions, it could only be in the midst of large and flourishing communities. 
Local feelings of interest or pride cannot be transferred, and it is not to be expect¬ 
ed that the means to arrange, display, preserve, and augment these collections, can 
be procured by voluntary contributions of individuals in the District of Columbia, 
or that they can be procured out of the District. There is no civilized nation, 
however narrow its policy in other respects, which does not exhibit some measure 
of interest in promoting the advancement of human knowledge. In most coun¬ 
tries science receives direct encouragement, and many Governments have vied with 
each other in their efforts to advance this cause. The Government of a country 
emulous to consider itself among the first of enlightened nations, we trust, will 
not refuse to aid in securing to its capital the benefits of the labors of the Na- 
