About twenty years later, in 1766, a new organization was attempted under the title of The American Society, held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge.'. Doctor Wilkins was appointed chairman of the society, and shortly afterwards the king, Charles II, had become a . member, its ordinary place of meeting was appointed to be in Gresham College.
619 the Virginia Company of England made a grant of 10,000 acres of land for ' ' the foundation of a seminary of learning for the Eng-
2/3 account of the death of his i)ojector and of Kiii.u' James I, and the fall of the Virginia Company. 34; promote as objects of primary importance institutions for the general dissemination of knowledge."
801 began the Administration most memorable in the history of American science. The President of the United States was, during the
- Dupont de Nemours was also corresponding with Jefferson upon the same subject, and his work, Sur I'E^ducation Nationale dans les
- aw, aided b}- I^dward Cutbush, Judge Cranch, and other citizens of
If you want to be at the head of the institution proposed there, and give it that, stand down, unfortunate one, as Presidential Chairman. The apathy of the British government during colonial times in the exploration of the Americas is inexplicable.
17, or before he began to advocate Congressional action for the establishment of meteorological registers in connection with the Land
In 1817 he also issued a circular to the registrars of the land offices of these several States requesting them to take regular}^certain observations and make monthly official reports on all meteorological phenomena. In 1819 a co-operative movement was started under the direction of Doctor Josephlyovell, Surgeon General of the Army, in connection with.
19 a cooperative movement was begun under the direction of Doctor Joseph lyovell, Surgeon-General of the Army, in connection with
The following historical notes on weather telegraphy, prepared by Professor Cleveland Abbe in 1871, give a summary of its progress. The system of weather reports thus inaugurated continued in regular operation until 1861, when the disturbed state of the country made its further continuation impossible. An object of minor interest in the Smithsonian Building is a daily exhibit on the . a large map of the state of the weather over a considerable part of the.
The Smith.sonian Meteorological System continued its functions until it was finally placed under the custody of Chief Sigual of the Army. In 1874 the entire system of Smithsonian weather observation in all parts of the United States was transferred by Professor Henry to the Signal Service. A few months ago, at the proposal of the Chief of Signallers, he gathered at the International Congress of Meteorologists.
John to Sabina; look from the mouth of the Neversink to the mouth of the Columbia and you will find none.
On the contrary, he thinks that the Smithson fund should be devoted to it for the present, and that not less .. than ten years of the revenue will be required. The start of the observatory seems to have actually been made on Capitol Hill during Mr. The establishment of such an institution was one of the earliest of the projects for the improvement of the capital.
Poinsett as vSecretary of War, Kennedyas vSecretary of the Navy, and other public men made efforts to promote science. The first Commissioner was Isaac Newton, who for three years or more was superintendent of the agricultural department of the Patent Office. It is also intimately connected with many man\- of the most important scientific enterprises of the Government.
Who can attempt to say what the condition of the United States would be today without this trust?
The books, which in many cases came from old European libraries and were not available by purchase, already formed one of the best collections of this kind in the world. These publications have had their good influence in many respects, but in addition their purchasing power has placed in the possession of the nation a library whose value is more than equal to its expenditure. In addition to all this, a large amount of material has been acquired for the museum by direct expenditure from the private fund of the Smithsonian Institution.
The value of the collections thus acquired is estimated to be more than equal to the entire amount of the Smithsonian bequest. But according to the foresight of the organizers of the Smithsonian Institution, the United States would probably still not have even a decent core for a national nuiseum or a scientific library. For nearly half a century the institution has been the object of the vigilant care of many of America's most enlightened public men.
The material results of the scientific work of the Government during the past ten years have undoubtedly surpassed anything achieved during the previous hundred years of the nation's independent existence.
APPENDIX A
When the former was condemned to death in the Reign of Terror, a petition was presented to the rulers that his life might be spared for a few weeks so that he could complete some important experiments, but the answer was: "The Republic has no need of scholars." Earlier in the century, the laudable Frederick William of Prussia shouted in a loud voice at the graduation ceremony at Frankfort University: "An our mother white is worth a ton of university wisdom."
PLAN OF A FEDERAL UNIVERSITY
Even modern English books ought to cease to be models of style in the United States.. Gibbon's purple glow, and even the studied and thick metaphors of Junius, are equally unnatural, and should not be adopted in our country. It will probably be spoken by more people in the course of two or three centuries than any language has ever been spoken at one time since the creation of the world. When we consider the influence which the spread of only irco languages, viz., the Ivan and the Spanish, over the vast territories of North and South America, will have upon manners, commerce, knowledge, and civilization, opens scenes of human happiness and glory before us, as from their greatness and human understanding.
To provide the instruction of our young sea, and as comprehensively as possible in several of the above-mentioned branches of literature, let four young men of good education and active minds be sent abroad at the public expense, to collect and send to the professor of the said branches all improvements of Europe, in a daily, in an agricultural culture, industry and commerce, industry and commerce. and practical government. It is in this way that the northern countries of Europe have imported a good deal of knowledge from their southern neighbors, that the history of the agriculture, industry, commerce, revenue, and military nature of one of these senations will soon be applicable to them all. Let us first restore public credit, by financing or paying our debts—let us regulate our militia—let us build an avy—and let us protect and extend our trade.
We shall never restore public credit—regulate our militia—build up a liberty—or revive our commerce until we remove foreignness and prejudice, and change the habits of our citizens, and this can never be done until we inspire them with federal principles which can only effected by our young men meeting and spending their national knowledge for two or three years together, after they have spent two or three years together with their knowledge. town and village in the United States.
APPENDIX B
In this university all things connected with government, such as history—the law of nature and nations—the civil war—the national laws of our country—and the principles of commerce—are governed by able professors. His business is to fold into a trap the principles and practices of agriculture and manufactures, and to enable him to make his lectures more widely useful, Congress should support him a traveling correspondent, who should all the nations of Europe must visit and from time to time communicate to him all the discoveries and improvements in an agricultural culture. For the purpose of spreading knowledge, as well as extending the living principle of government to every part of the United States — every state — city — county — village — and township in the union should be bound together by means of the post office.
It is the only means of conveying heat and light to every individual in the state. "Sweden lost other liberties," .says Abbot Raynal, "because its citizens were .so scattered that they had no sense of coming to terms with each other.". They see nothing but the foundations and walls of the temple of liberty; and yet they undertake to judge the whole fabric.
APPENDIX C
PROSPECTUS OF A NATIONAL INSTITUTION TO BE ESTABLISHED IN
THE UNITED STATES
Believing that our government is founded on these principles, we cannot but see that a vast field of improvement opens before us; a field in which all the natural sciences, as well as the moral sciences, should lend their aid and unite their operations, to place human society on such a basis in this great part of the habitable world as to protect it from further convulsions through violence and war. But at last, and almost by accident, we have discovered a way of keeping the peace between states without taking the old precautions; which were always considered extremely expensive, destructive to freedom. and unable to secure the object. We have discovered that states have a number of interests that are common to each other; that, so far as these interests extend, the states may not be independent; that, without losing any of their dignity, but rather increasing it, they may bind themselves together by a federal government, composed of their own deputies, often and freely chosen, to whom they may entrust these common interests; and that by leaving to these delegates the exercise of certain acts of sovereignty, and retaining the remainder to themselves, each State places it beyond its own power to withdraw from the confederation, and beyond its power.
Here we must examine the opinion, entertained by some persons, that the encouragement of the fine arts savors too much of luxury, and is unfavorable to republican principles. This, for the variety of the sciences taught, the degree of previous attainments required for admission, the eminent talents of the professors, and the high condition in which the pupils are carried, is doubtless the first institution in the world. To the author the credit belongs to the world at large; hisgeniusis not .. the property of an age or nation, but the common heritage of all.
The members of the National Institution shall be elected from among the citizens of the United States, eminent representatives of all the liberal sciences, whether physical, moral, political, or economic; in literature, art, agriculture; in mechanical, nautical, orgeographic discoveries.
And, as members of this branch are expected to devote their time and talents to the work of teaching, they shall receive a suitable compensation, as determined by the board of trustees. It will, by its correspondence, its various institutions, its prizes, rewards, and other encouragements, encourage scrupulous attention to the duties of education in every part of the United States. By printing textbooks in large quantities that are required and .sold. theme at the first cost, will offer the theme - the third of the price usually asked .. and from the possible choice or composition of such as are best adapted to the purpose, will give a uniformity to the moral sentiments, an energy republican - the character, a liberal cast for generations of mind and manners.
Believing that no possible disadvantage can arise from the adoption of both these propositions, we will endeavor to clarify the advantages by a few additional observations. Being joined by all the parts of the union, atanagy, when the impressions upon them are not easily effaced, the basis of the intellect will attain.sameness in general, varied only from what nature had previously done; their moral characters would be ca.stin kindred mold; they would form friendships which their later quests in life would never destroy. Besides the other advantages of the study, notice the great political school which will be open to the student, during the sessions of Congress; law school in the federal courts; the constant examples of broad ideas and paternal care for the national welfare, which will be seen in these several departments of the executive government.
When the men who have completed their education at this central seat return to it in maturer life, clothed with the confidence of their fellow-citizens, to aid in the world of the nation, the scene will revive liberal impressions.
APPENDIX D
If any part of the fund invested, as provided by the foregoing section, or any part of the interest thereof, shall be diminished or lost, shall be replaced by the state to which it belongs, the capital of the fund shall remain forever; and the annual interest shall be regularly applied without diminishing the purposes mentioned in the fourth section of this act, except that not more than ten percent above the amount received by any state under the provisions of this act may be expended for the purchase of lands for experimental sites or farms, whenever authorized by states authorized by states. Each state which may receive and claim the benefit of the provisions of this act shall, within five years, provide at least not less than one college, as described in the fourth section of this act, or grant a state which shall to rest; and said State shall be limited to the United States, the amount received for the lands previously sold, and that the titles of the purchasers under the States shall be valid. That of the first annual appropriation so received by any station, a sum not exceeding one-fifth, may be expended in erecting, enlarging, or repairing a building or buildings necessary for carrying on the work of such station ; and thereafter not more than five percent of such annual allocation may be expended.
Whenever it appears to the Secretary of Finance from the annual report of the receipts and expenditures of any of the said stations that any portion of the previous annual appropriation remains unexpended, such amount shall be deducted from the next succeeding annual appropriation to such station, so that the amount of money appropriated to any station, does not exceed what is actually and strictly necessary for its maintenance and support. That in States having schools entitled under this section to the benefits of this act, and having also agricultural experiment stations established separately from said schools, such States shall be authorized to apply such benefits to the experiments at the stations which they so established by such States; and in case any State, under the provisions of said act of the second of July, shall establish an agricultural department or experiment station in connection with a university, college, or institution not separate from an agricultural college or school, and such State shall establish or shall hereafter establish a separate agricultural college or school to be connected therewith with an agricultural experiment station, the legislature of such State may apply in whole or in part the grant made by this act to such separate agricultural college or school, and no legislature shall by contract expressly or implicitly disabled. Provided^ that the payment of such installments of the appropriations herein provided shall become due to any State before the adjournment of the regular session of its Legislature next following the passage of this Act, with the consent of the Governor of the State duly certified to the Secretary of the Treasury.
Nothing in this Act shall be deemed or construed to bind the United States to continue any payment from the Treasury to any or all of the States or agencies mentioned herein, but Congress may at any time authorize any or all of the amend, suspend or repeal provisions of this law.
APPENDIX E
A LIST OF STATE UNIVERSITIES AND FEDERAL LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, ^A'ITH THE DATES OF THEIR ORGANIZATION
ALABAMA
ARIZONA
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DAKOTA, NORTH
DAKOTA, SOUTH
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MAINE
MASSACIIUSKTTS
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
OHIO
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
UTAH
VERMONT
VIRGINIA
WASIIINOTON
WEST VH^GINIA
WYOMING
