United States; a history: the most complete and most popular history of the United States of America from the aboriginal times to the present . THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. In April of 1846, Congress passed an act organizing the Smith-sonian Institution at Washington City. Twenty7two years previ-ously an eminent English chemist and philanthropist named JamesSmithson * had died at Genoa, bequeathing on certain conditions alarge sum of money to the United States. In the fall of 1838, bythe death of Smithsons nephew, the proceeds of the estate, amount-ing to five hundred and fifteen thousan
United States; a history: the most complete and most popular history of the United States of America from the aboriginal times to the present . THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. In April of 1846, Congress passed an act organizing the Smith-sonian Institution at Washington City. Twenty7two years previ-ously an eminent English chemist and philanthropist named JamesSmithson * had died at Genoa, bequeathing on certain conditions alarge sum of money to the United States. In the fall of 1838, bythe death of Smithsons nephew, the proceeds of the estate, amount-ing to five hundred and fifteen thousand dollars, were secured by the * Until after his graduation at Oxford in 1786, this remarkable man was known bythe name of James Lewis Made. Afterward, of his own accord, he chose the name ofhis reputed father, Hugh Smithson, duke of OVERLAND TO CALIFORNIA, 1849. (Pass of tne Sierras., POLKS ADMINISTRATION. 461 agent of the national government ami deposited in the mint. It hadbeen provided in the will that the bequest should be used for theestablishment at Washington of an institution for the increase and dij-fusion of knowledge among men. To carry out the great design of thetestator a plan of organization, prepared by John Quincy Adams, waslaid before Congress and after some modifications adopted. In the act of establishment it was provided that the institutioncontemplated by Mr. Smithson should be named in his honor TheSmithsonian Institution ; that the same should be under the imme-diate control of a Board of Regents composed of the President, Vice-President, judges of the Supreme Court, and other principal officersof the government; that the entire Smithsonian fund, amounting withaccrued interest to six hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars, shouldbe loaned forever to the United States at six per cent.; that
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