and all great monuments, have been government works. The Peter-pence for the stupendous monument to the original of apostolic succession, were also collected under a peremptory tax; the subscription for the Nelson monument, barely sufficed for the admission fee of the proposed memorial into Westminster Abbey. We can scarcely expect to be more successful in the United States, and deserve little reproach on account of the fact that, in a few years, we have not succeeded in perpetuating, in brass and stone, the memory of Washington. His glory is so fresh in the appreciation of his countrymen, that they neglect the importance of securing to posterity an enduring record of their veneration. The work should not depend upon casual contributions, but be completed immediately at the expense of the government.

When this national memorial shall raise its head towards heaven, a tower of strength amid the clouds and tempests which environ it, and when the sun shines out upon it in the calm repose of its majesty, it will then become a fitting symbol of the great hero and sage, first in war and first in peace, "adversis major par secundis."

It will be observed that we have designated the contents of this chapter as descriptive of governmental and national establishments, as distinct from the topics belonging to the former chapters upon the executive, legislative, and judicial departments. We were led to this choice by the consideration that there are, in the federal city, certain institutions which are national, both in their objects and organization, and, in a greater or less degree,

under the patronage or control of the national Government, or else deserving of national recognition.

The Smithsonian Institution is so far identified with the Government, that while it involves the nation in no expense, except perhaps for printing, the fund from which its income is derived belongs to the people of the United States, in trust for special purposes; and, with a view to the faithful discharge of that trust, the President of the United States, Vice-President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Attorney-General, Secretaries of War, Navy, and Treasury, Postmaster-General, and Commissioner of Patents, are, ex officio, Regents of the Institution.

The building is situated on that portion of the public grounds extending westward from the capitol to the Potomac River, and known as the Mall. The style of architecture is the early Gothic, and a fine specimen of the richness of detail and ornamentation peculiar to the

last half of the twelfth century, the transition period of architecture. It was designed by James Renwick, Jr., of New York, and is built of light-red sandstone obtained from the vicinity of Seneca Creek, a tributary of the Potomac, about twenty-three miles from Washington. The color of the stone harmonizes with the style of architecture, and produces a rich and solid effect.

The main building has, in the centre of its north front, two towers, of which the higher reaches an elevation of about 150 feet. On the south front is a tower, 37 feet square and 91 feet high. On the northeast corner is a campanile tower, 17 feet square and 117 feet high; at the southwest corner an octagonal tower, in which is a spiral staircase. There are nine towers in all.

The entire length of the building, from east to west, is 447 feet; its greatest breadth is 160 feet. The east wing is 82 by 52 feet, and 424 feet high to the top of its battlement; the west wing, including its projecting apsis, is 84 feet by 40, and 38 feet high; and each of the connecting `ranges, including its cloister, is 60 feet by 49. The main building is 205 feet by 57, and, to the top of the corbel course, 58 feet high. The corner-stone was laid, with Masonic ceremonies, in the presence of President Polk, May 1st, 1847.

The founder of this Institution, James Smithson, was an Englishman, claiming a descent from the noble families of Northumberland and Somerset ; until manhood he was known as James Lewis Macie, when he asserted his right to the family name of the Duke of Northumberland, and ever after called himself James Smithson. He possessed great scientific attainments and furnished many valuable memoirs for the Royal Society of England. After his

decease, he bequeathed all his property-with a reservation of $25,000 to form the principal of an annuity for a relative 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." The bequest having been legally tested by the High Court of Chancery in England, the United States, represented by Hon. Richard Rush, obtained a decree which placed them in possession of $515,169, which amount was placed in the Treasury of the United States, and has ever since remained intact,—the interest arising from it having been so judiciously husbanded as to furnish means for all the outlays for every purpose, including the cost of erecting its beautiful structure. The act incorporating the Institution was approved by the President, August 20, 1846, and the first session. of the Board of Regents was commenced on the 7th of the following September. It was, however, principally occupied in discussions relative to the plan of organization, which was not adopted until the beginning of 1847. After full examination of various projects, the following programme of organization, presented by the Secretary, was decided upon as, in the opinion of the Regents, most nearly arriving at the intention of the founder:

To Increase Knowledge. It is proposed: 1. To stimulate men of talent to make original researches, by offering suitable rewards for memoirs containing new truths; and, 2. To appropriate annually a portion of the income for particular researches, under the direction of suitable persons.

To Diffuse Knowledge. It is proposed: 1. To publish a series of periodical reports on the progress of the differ

ent branches of knowledge; and, 2. To publish, occasionally, separate treatises on subjects of general interest.

Details of Plan to Incrase Knowledge. I. By stimulating researches. 1. Facilities to be afforded for the production of original memoirs on all branches of knowledge. 2. The memoirs thus obtained to be published in a series of volumes, in a quarto form, and entitled Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. 3. No memoir, on subjects of physical science, to be accepted for publication, which does not furnish a positive addition to human knowledge, resting on original research; and all unverified speculations to be rejected. 4. Each memoir presented to the Institution to be submitted for examination to a commission of persons of reputation for learning in the branch to which the memoir pertains, and to be accepted for publication only in case the report of this commission is favorable. 5. The commission to be chosen by the officers of the Institution, and the name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed, unless a favorable decision be made. 6. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transactions of literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to all the colleges, and principal libraries, in this country. One part of the remaining copies may be offered for sale; and the other carefully preserved, to form complete sets of the work, to supply the demand from new institutions. 7. An abstract, or popular account, of the contents of these memoirs to be given to the public through the annual report of the Regents to Congress. II. By appropriating a part of the income, annually, to special objects of research, under the direction of suitable persons. 1. The objects, and the amount appropriated, to be recommended by counselors of the Institution.