423 
THE APRIL MEETING, 1844 . 
to give to it a particular direction, or even to enumerate the associations, public 
bodies, or classes of individuals, that are embraced within its scope. The Institute 
is established at the seat of the General Government. It is chartered by the Legis¬ 
lature of the United States. Some of its officers derive their situation, as such, only 
from their official relations to the Government. It looks for essential and perma¬ 
nent support to the constituted authorities of the nation. Yet, thus connected with 
the Federal Government and emanating from its will, the society is in all respects 
the least exclusive that ever was formed. It embraces in its comprehensive plan» 
all who are, or who are disposed to be, the promoters of science, literature, or the 
arts. Every one, whatever may be his turn of mind, or course of occupation, may 
find in its objects something congenial to his tastes, or conducive to his pleasures, 
interests, or pursuits. Philosophy and practical mechanics are alike within its 
view. Arts of embellishment and strict utility will be cultivated. Productions of 
nature, genius, and labor, will be sought for, received, and interchanged. Inquiries 
and discoveries at home and abroad will be prosecuted with zeal. Theories of an¬ 
cient and modern times will be investigated and tried. Secrets of the earth, the 
water, the air, and the heavens will be explored. In assuming for an association 
which is scarcely matured into existence these broad and lofty purposes, we must 
not be deemed extravagant or wild. An explanation will be found in the univer¬ 
sality of the scheme and the connection with it of every variety of interest. Not 
an expedition can be fitted out under the auspices of the Government, by land or 
by water, but may be made auxiliary to it. Diplomatic agencies are directly and 
positively promotive of its plans. Consular employments, wherever extended and 
however diversified, will become contributory to them, almost without an effort. In 
our own country every public institution, possessing some objects in common with 
the Institute or collateral to it, may at once afford and derive assistance from the 
harmonious intercourse. Membership of the one will naturally imply membership 
of the other. Wherever light springs from human minds, its reflection will be 
immediate from this association ; for it hopes to be identified with every sour.ee of 
light which human minds can shed throughout the globe. 
Resting on the basis of a popular government, the Institute is designed literally 
for the people. It hopes to collect, and to distribute with unsparing hand whatever 
may be beneficial to man. It is obvious that there can be no limit to the number 
of its associates except that which may be imposed by individual reluctance to do 
good in this especial form. The door is open wide to the friends of the advance¬ 
ment of the power, knowledge, and happiness of mankind ; for the ability to be 
useful extends throughout them all. Wherever a disposition can be found to con¬ 
tribute or derive useful information, the badge of membership may be worn. 
It may be proper to repeat the intimations heretofore given, that the peculiar 
means of utility which this association will possess, will consist in its power to ex¬ 
change objects of interest and value with all other societies. Enough has been 
said to show the extent and variety of correspondence which it may command. 
This correspondence, in its almost infinite subdivision, becomes a thousand channels 
through which will be conveyed the productions of every quarter of the world. Pos¬ 
sessed of these, not for selfish purposes, neither for concealment nor mere display, they 
will become, to all useful ends, the common property of kindred associations, of which 
the Institute is but the most fortunate in procuring and the most happy in distribu¬ 
ting the fruits of its position and peculiar care. It is more than probable that 
many specimens may bo received of similar kinds. Such would at once be trans¬ 
ferred whore their uses, thus multiplied, would be the most esteemed. When pro- 
