ested in the intellectual advancement of the capital soon. had recourse to the idea of beginning the work at private expense, relying upon government aid for its future advancement. Barlow's classmate, Josiah Meigs, his friend and neighbor Thomas Law, aided by Edward Cutbush, Judge Cranch, and other citizens of Washington proceeded, forthwith, to attempt that which the politicians dared not. The essential features of Barlow's plan were: 1. The advancement of knowledge by associations of scientific men; and 2. The dissemination of its rudiments by the instruction of youth.' To meet the first of these requirements they organized the Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences, in 1819; and for the second, the Columbian College, incorporated in 1821. Most of the prominent members of the Columbian Institute were also among the friends and supporters of the college. Dr. Josiah Meigs, the friend and classmate of Barlow, the president of the institute from 1819 to 1821, was an incorporator, and a member of the first faculty of the college." Dr. Edward Cutbush, the founder of the Columbian Institute, was also a professor, as well as Dr. Thomas Sewall, Dr. Alexander McWilliams, and Judge William Cranch, and in publications made at the time these men distinctly proposed to realize the aspirations of Washington, for the creation of a great National University at the seat of the Federal Government. It was in this cause President Monroe gave to the Columbian College his public support as President of the United States. At a later day, when an hour of need overtook the college, John Quincy Adams became one of its saving benefactors.3 1 "The Old Bachelor," by William Wirt, p. 186. 2 I am indebted to Dr. James C. Welling, President of the Columbian University, for much important information concerning this and other matter discussed in the present paper. James C. Welling: P. I. "The Columbian University," Washington, 1889, The following letter, written by President Monroe in 1821, indicates that the The Columbian Institute was granted the use of rooms in the Capitol building under the present Congressional Library Hall, which became a centre of the scientific and literary interests of Washington, and its annual meetings were held in the Hall of the House of Representatives, where Southard, Clay, Everett, Meigs and Adams delivered addresses upon matters of science and political economy to large assemblages of public men. In 1819, Josiah Meigs, its president, writing to Dr. Daniel Drake, of Cincinnati, said: "I have little doubt that this Congress will, before they rise, give the Institute a few acres of ground for our build public men of the day were not unwilling that the institution should be regarded as one of national scope: SIR : WASHINGTON, March 28, 1821. I avail myself of this mode of assuring you of my earnest desire that the College which was incorporated by an Act of Congress at the last session, by the title of "The Columbian College in the District of Columbia" may accomplish all the useful purposes for which it was established; and I add, with great satisfaction, that there is good reason to believe that the hopes of those who have so patriotically contributed to advance it to its present stage will not be disappointed. Its commencement will be under circumstances very favorable to its success. The act of incorporation is well digested, looks to the proper objects, and grants the powers well adapted to their attainment. The establishment of the institution within the Federal District in the presence of Congress, and of all the departments of the government will secure to the young men who may be educated in it many important advantages, among which the opportunity which it will afford them of hearing the debates in Congress and in the Supreme Court, on important subjects, must be obvious to all. With these peculiar advantages, this institution, if it receives hereafter the proper encouragement, cannot fail to be eminently useful to the nation. Under this impression, I trust that such encouragement will not be withheld from it. I am, Sir, with great respect, The donation of $25,000 made to the Columbian College in 1832 was preceded by a report from the Committee in House of Representatives on District of Columbia. That report may be found in "Reports of Committees, First Session, 22d Congress (1831-2)," vol. iii., Report No. 334. After reciting the early history of the college the report proceeds as follows: "Few institutions present as strong claims to the patronage of Government as that in behalf of which the forementioned memorial has been presented. ing and for a Botanic Garden. Mr. Barlow made great efforts to obtain this object eight or ten years ago. He could do nothing-but prejudices which then were of the density of a thunder-cloud are now as tenuous as the tail of a comet.' On the ground granted by Congress, a botanical garden was established by the Society, in 1822, or 1823, with the co-operation of the State Department and the consular service. In 1829 the Society applied to Congress for pecuniary aid, which was not granted.' (The Report is made in answer to a memorial of the President and Trustees of the College, asking Congress to make a donation to the College' from the sale of public lots or from such other source as Congress may think proper to direct.') Its location near the seat of Government, its salubrious middle climate, and other advantages, and the commendable efforts of the present trustees and professors to sustain it, justly entitle it to public beneficence. "The supreme legislative power of the United States over persons and property within the District of Columbia is unquestioned. Congress has repeatedly made grants of portions of the public lands to seminaries of learning situated within the limits of States and Territories where such lands lie. The Constitution having thus confided to the care of the National Legislature the rights and interests of the District of Columbia, and Congress having made liberal donations out of the National domain to promote the great cause of education, in all the other districts within which the General Government has exclusive jurisdiction, it would seem to be cruel injustice to refuse the small boon now recommended. These considerations induce the hope that the proposed donation will be exempt from all opposition not founded in doubts of the just claim to patronage of the institution for the benefit of which it is designed. And these claims, it is fully believed, will stand the test of the severest scrutiny." The report from which the above extracts are taken was made February 27, 1832 (to accompany House Bill, No. 422), by Mr. Thomas, of Maryland (on behalf of the Committee on the District of Columbia), in answer to memorial of the Trustees and the President of the Columbian College. 1 "Life of Josiah Meigs," p. 102. The original members of the Columbian Institute were: Hon. John Quincy Adams; Colonel George Bomford, U.S.A.; Dr. John A. Brereton, U.S.A.; Dr. Edward Cutbush, U.S. N.; Asbury Dickins, Esq.; Joseph Gales, Jr., Esq.; Dr. Henry Huntt; Thomas Law, Esq.; Edmund Law, Esq.; Dr. George W. May; Alexander McWilliams, Esq.; William Winston Seaton, Esq.; Samuel H. Smith, Esq.; William Thornton, Esq.; Hon. Roger C. Weightman. Among the later members were Dr. Joseph Lovell, U. S. A.; Colonel Isaac Roberdeau; Dr. Thomas Sewell; Judge William Cranch; Hon. Henry Clay; The Columbian University was also an applicant for government aid, which it received to the amount of $25,000 in 1832, on the ground that it was an institution of national importance, organized by private individuals to do work legitimately within the domain of governmental responsibilities.' Hon. John McLean; Hon. Richard Rush; Hon. S. L. Southard; Hon. William Wirt; Dr. W. S. W. Ruschenberger, U. S. N.; Hon. J. M. Berrien ; Hon. J. C. Calhoun: Rev. Obadiah Brown; and Rev. William Staughton. The minutes of the Columbian Institute are not to be found. The treasurer's book is in the National Museum. 1 This appropriation was made on the strength of a report by Senator Barbour, of Virginia, Chairman of the Committee on the District of Columbia, in which, after alluding to the long recognized "utility of a central literary establishment" and to the failures of the recommendations of Washington and Madison, he gave a brief history of the enterprise, which was as follows: "At length a few enterprising and patriotic individuals attempted to achieve by voluntary donations that which it had been supposed could be effected only by the power of Congress. "Their efforts were crowned with distinguished success. One individual in particular, the Rev. Luther Rice, with an unwearied industry and an unyielding perseverance which prompted him to traverse every part of the Union in pursuit of aid to this beneficent object, contributed principally to that success. "The funds thus acquired were faithfully and judiciously applied to this object... Application was made to Congress for an act of incorporation, which passed February 9, 1821. This, however, was all the aid which Congress dispensed. "The accompanying document shows that there have been expended in this institution $80,000, of which only $50,000 have been procured; and as a consequence the institution is embarrassed by a debt to the amount of $30,000. Under the circumstances the individuals who have thus generously devoted themselves to the promotion of this establishment, and who have disinterestedly pledged their independence upon the success of the College, present themselves to Congress with a view to obtain their protection by a pecuniary grant. "The committee in reviewing the peculiar circumstances which characterize the origin of this establishment, its progress, and the great benefits it promises to society, are of the opinion that the application is reasonable. It cannot be doubted that had such an establishment grown up, under similar circumstances in either of the States it would receive the helping hand of its Legislature. Congress stands in the same relation to this establishment, from its exclusive power of legislation within the District, &c., &c." Report of Mr. Barbour from the Committee on the District of Columbia to whom was referred the Memorial of the Trustees of the Columbian College.April 19, 1824.-Senate.-18th Congress, Ist Session (67). 80-83 pp. The Columbian College received nearly one third of its original endowment from the government of the United States. Of the remainder perhaps one half was contributed by men like President Adams, whose sole interest in it was a patriotic one. During Jackson's presidency all ideas of centralization, even in scientific matters, appear to have fallen into disfavor, and the Columbian Institute and the Columbian College were forced to abandon their hopes for governmental aid. The Institute languished and dropped out of existence, while the College, under the fostering care of a church organization (which finally dropped it in 1846), and through the beneficence of individuals, one of whom, a citizen of Washington, gave it property to the value of $200,000, has grown to be a university in name and scope, and is included among the thirteen "foundations comprising groups of related faculties, colleges, or schools," enumerated in the report of the Commissioner of Education for 1886–7. Although it has not since 1832 made any claims for government aid, nor assumed to be in any way a ward of the nation, its early history is significant, on account of its connection with the project for a National University, which has been for more than a century before the people. The government has since established in Washington City the National Deaf-Mute College, which it still maintains, and the Howard University, intended primarily for the freedman, but open to all. The founders of the Columbian Institute and the Columbian University were building better than they knew, for they were not only advancing knowledge in their own day and generation, but they were educating public opinion for a great opportunity, which soon came in the form of a gift to the nation from beyond the sea, in the form of the Smithson bequest. The story of the Smithsonian Institution is a remarkable one. Smithson was a graduate of the University of Oxford, a Fellow of the Royal Society, a chemist and mineralogist of |