Hugh Smithson, from whom the institution derives its name, was a relative of the Duke of Northumberland. He was much devoted to physical science, and at Oxford, where he graduated, enjoyed the reputation of being the best chemist in the university. He was a cosmopolitan in his views, and used to express himself to the effect that the man of science belongs exclusively to no country; that the world is his country and all men are his countrymen. It was, it is believed, at one time his intention to leave his property to the Royal Society of London, for the promotion of science, but in consequence of a misunderstanding with the council of the society, he changed his mind and left it to his nephew, and, in case of the death of that relation without issue, to the United States of America, to found the institution which now bears his name.

In 1829 Smithson died, leaving his fortune, £120,000, in case of the death of his nephew, to whom it was first bequeathed, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among

men.

In 1838, the nephew having died, the money was paid over by the English Court of Chancery to the Agent appointed by the Government of the United States; and eight years afterwards, in 1846, an Act was passed through Congress for the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution.

By this Act the immediate government of the institution devolved upon the Board of Regents consisting of the following 15 members:

The Vice-President of the United States, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Mayor of the City of Washington, ex-officio; three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President thereof; three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker; six persons chosen from the citizens at large by joint resolution of the Senate and House, two of whom shall be members of the National Institute, and the other four inhabitants of states, and no two from the same state.

With a view of carrying the wishes of the testator into effect the Secretary, Professor Henry, was empowered to draw up a programme for the organization of the institution, which was presented in his first Annual Report to the Board of Regents and adopted by them in 1847.

As this programme is presented in the report before us we are enabled to give some extracts which serve to exhibit the principles

that guide the governing body, as well as the mode of carrying the objects of the institution into effect.

"General considerations which should serve as a guide in adopting a plan of organization.

(1). Will of Smithson. The property is bequeathed to the United States of America to found at Washington, under the name of the SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.

(2). The bequest is for the benefit of mankind. The Government of the United States is merely a trustee to carry out the design of the testator.

(3). The institution is not a national establishment, as is frequently supposed, but the establishment of an individual, and is to bear and perpetuate his name. (4). The objects of this institution are, 1st., to increase, and 2nd, to diffuse, knowledge among men.

(5). These two objects should not be confounded with one another. The first is to enlarge the existing stock of knowledge by the addition of new truths; and the second, to disseminate knowledge, thus increased, among men.

(6). The will makes no restriction in favor of any particular kind of knowledge; hence all branches are entitled to a share of attention.

(13). It should be recollected that mankind in general are to be benefited by the bequest, and that, therefore, all unnecessary expenditure on local objects would be a perversion of the trust.

(14). Besides the forgoing considerations, deduced immediately from the will of Smithson, regard must be had to certain requirements of the Act of Congress establishing the institution. These are, a library, a museum, and a gallery of art, with a building on a liberal scale to contain them."

In order to carry out the two leading objects of the will of Mr. Smithson, the increase, namely, and the diffusion of knowledge, the same report recommends the following plans:

To increase knowledge one means proposed is to stimulate men of talent to make original researches by offering suitable rewards for memoirs containing new truths. The memoirs thus obtained are to be published in a series of volumes, and entitled Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge.

Among the various objects of research named for which pecuniary appropriations may be made are included, a system of meteorological observations for solving the problem of American storms; Explorations in Natural History and Geology; Magnetic and Topographical Surveys; the solution of various experimental problems; and Statistical, Historical and Ethnological enquiries.

To promote the diffusion of knowledge the two leading means suggested are the publication of periodical reports on the progress of different branches of knowledge, and the publication occasionally of separate treatises.

For the preparation of these reports it is proposed that men

eminent in the respective branches be employed, that they be furnished with journals and other necessary publications, and that they be paid a certain sum for their labors.

In virtue of the Act of Congress, the Secretary and his assistants, during the session of Congress, will be required to illustrate new discoveries in science and to exhibit new objects of art; distinguished individuals will also be invited to give lectures on subjects of general interest.

On the occasion of the meeting of the Regents in 1847, it was resolved to divide the income into two equal parts; one to be appropriated to increase and diffuse knowledge agreeably to the scheme above given; and the other part to be appropriated to the formation of a library and a collection of objects of nature and of art.

This resolution was, however, rescinded at the meeting of January, 1855, when it was determined that

"The annual appropriations should be apportioned specially among the differ ent objects and operations of the institution, in such manner as might, in the judgment of the Regents, be necessary and proper for each, according to its intrinsic importance, and a compliance in good faith with the law."

Admirably adapted as the foregoing scheme would seem to be for carrying out bona fide, the design of the founder, efforts have been made by some persons to divert from their legitimate channel the funds destined for cosmopolitan purposes, and to expend them on objects of a comparatively local character. The good sense and honorable feeling of the nation have, however, triumphed, and will, it is hoped, insure the permanence of the institution on its present footing. The mode of procedure adopted by the Regents in conducting the affairs of the institution having been brought under the notice of Congress in 1855, the matter was referred to a Special Committee of the House of Representatives and to the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. In reporting subsequently on the matter the Judiciary Committee unanimously approved of the acts of the Regents in construing the law of Congress, in interpreting the will of Smithson, and in what they had done in the way of increasing and diffusing knowledge among men.

In the verdict of the Judiciary Committee we find the following language:

(Referring to the legacy). "It is not bequeathed to the United States to be used for their own benefit and advantage only, but in trust to apply to the increase and diffusion of knowledge among mankind generally, so that other men and other nations might share in its advantages as well as ourselves."

Again, in reference to the proposed application of the funds to the formation of a library, the Judiciary Committee go on to say:

"Such an application of the funds could hardly be regarded as a faithful execution of the trust; for the collection of an immense library at Washington would certainly not tend to increase or diffuse knowledge in any other country, not even among the countrymen of the testator; very few even of the citizens of the United States would receive any benefit from it.

"This is the construction which the Regents have given to the Acts of Congress, and in the opinion of the committee, it is the true one, and, acting under it, they have erected a commodious building, given their attention to all the branches of science mentioned in the law, to the full extent of the means afforded by the fund of the institution, and have been forming a library of choice and valuable books, amounting already to more than fifteen thousand volumes. The books are, for the most part, precisely of the character calculated to carry out the intentions of the donor of the fund, and of the Act of Congress. They are chiefly composed of works published by or under the auspices of the numerous institutions of Europe which are engaged in scientific pursuits, giving an account of their respective researches and of new discoveries whenever they are made. These works are sent to the Smithsonian Institution in return for the publications of this institution which are transmitted to the learned societies and establishments abroad. The library thus formed, and the means by which it is accomplished, are peculiarly calculated to attain the objects for which the munificent legacy was given in trust to the United States. The publication of the results of scientific researches made by the institution is calculated to stimulate American genius, and at the same time enable it to bring before the public the fruits of its labors. And the transmission of these publications to the learned societies in Europe, and receiving in return the fruits of similar researches made by them, gives to each the benefit of the increase of knowledge which either may obtain, and at the same time diffuses it throughout the civilized world. The library thus formed will contain books suitable to the present state of scientific knowledge, and will keep pace with its advance; and it is certainly far superior to a vast collection of expensive works, most of which may be found in any public library, and many of which are mere objects of curiosity or amusement, and seldom, if ever, opened by any one engaged in the pursuit of science."

The Judiciary Committee conclude their report in the following terms:

"From the views entertained by the committee, after an impartial examination of the proceedings referred to, the committee have adopted the language of the resolution, that no action of the Senate is necessary and proper in regard to the Smithsonian Institution; and this is the unanimous opinion of the committee."" Having then briefly considered the origin, proposed objects and mode of action of this magnificent establishment, it remains for us to examine from the report for the year 1855 how far the proposed objects are in course of accomplishment.

The following are the principal contents of the report of the Regents for 1855;

The Report of the Secretary to the Board of Regents; the Report of the Assistant Secretary and Curator; Reports of sub-committees relative to expenditure; Journals of meetings of the board; outlines of several lectures delivered in the rooms of the institution ; directions to meteorological observers and various reports and suggestions relative to meteorological observations; correspondence relative to Ethnological and Topographical researches; and, finally, a long and able report on the present condition of the science of galvanism, by Professor Müller, of Freiburg, and translated from the German by Mr. Baker, of the Coast Survey.

SECRETARY'S REPORT.

Among the memoirs which, in accordance with the announcement in the Secretary's Report, form the eighth volume of the Smithsonian Contributions are the following: along with others, by Major B. Alvord, and Dr. Joseph Jones; and a record of Auroral phenomena, by P. Force:

(1). On the progress of information and opinion respecting the archæology of the United States, by Samuel F. Haven, Librarian of the American Antiquarian Society.

(2). A paper on the recent secular period of the Aurora Borealis, by Professor Olmstead.

One useful function of the Smithsonian Institution is that of effecting literary and scientific exchanges between individuals and societies. The extent of their operations in this department may be judged of by the fact that in the year 1855, 8585 packages for distribution passed through the hands of the institution.

The Smithsonian agency is not confined to the transmission of works from the United States, but is extended to those of Canada and Central and South America, and its foreign relations embrace every part of the civilized world. It brings into friendly correspondence cultivators of original research the most widely separated, and emphatically realizes the idea of Smithson, that" the man of science is of no country;" that "the world is his country, and all mankind his countrymen."

The system of exchange has found favor with foreign governments, and the Smithsonian packages are now admitted into all parts to which they are sent, without detention and free of duty.

METEOROLOGY.

Since the publication of the former report an arrangement has been made with the Commissioner of Patents, by which the system of Meteorological observations established under the direction of the institution will be extended, and the results published more fully than the Smithsonian in come will allow.

With respect to the complaints that have been made that but few of the materials collected have been published, the report remarks,