The will indicates a degree of sensitiveness on the subject of his illegitimacy. He starts with a declaration of pedigree:
I, James Smithson, son of Hough, first Duke of Northumberland, and Elizabeth, heiress of the Hungerfords of Audley, and niece of Charles the Proud, Duke of Somerset, now residing in Bentinck street, Cavendish Square, do make this my last will and testament,....
“To found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment For the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge among Men.”
The bequest was first announced to Congress by President Jackson, in 1835. Long discussions and reports followed; first, upon the propriety of accepting the trust; and next, upon the kind of institution to be established; in the course of which the ablest minds in the country, in and out of Congress, gave expression to their views. The report of Mr. Adams was particularly eloquent. The objection to receiving the bequest was based mainly upon the alleged absence of constitutional power, but partly upon policy.
The discussion as to the kind of institution which would best fulfil the testator’s intention, extended through a series of years, and led to almost every possible proposition. I shall not attempt to give even an outline of these debates, which finally culminated in the adoption of a somewhat mixed scheme, allowing of almost anything. To Robert Dale Owen, of Indiana, is mainly due the credit of finally pressing the bill to a vote. The Act required that there be provided a hall or halls for a library, a museum, a chemical laboratory, necessary lecture-rooms, and a gallery of art.
The Board of Regents, in whose hands the control of the institution is vested, drew up the following general plan, upon which the operations of the institution have been conducted, this plan being, in their judgment, best calculated to carry into effect the wishes of the founder:
To Increase Knowledge: It is proposed—first, to stimulate men of talent to make original researches, by offering suitable rewards for memoirs containing new truths; and, second, to appropriate annually a portion of the income for particular researches, under the direction of suitable persons.
To Diffuse Knowledge: It is proposed—first, to publish a series of periodical reports on the progress of the different branches of knowledge; and, second, to publish occasionally separate treatises on subjects of general interest.
Details of Plan to Increase Knowledge by Stimulating Researches: First, facilities to be afforded for the production of original memoirs on all branches of knowledge. Second, the memoirs thus obtained to be published in a series of volumes, in a quarto form, and entitled Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. Third, 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. Fourth, 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. Fifth, the Commission to be chosen by officers of the Institution, and the name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed, unless a favorable decision be made. Sixth, the volumes of the memoirs to be changed 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 for new institutions. Seventh, an abstract, or popular account, of the contents of these memoirs, to be given to the public through the annual reports of the Regents to Congress.
By Appropriating a Part of the Income, Annually, to Special Objects of Research, under the Direction of Suitable Persons: First, the objects, and the amount appropriated, to be recommended by Councillors of the Institution. Second, appropriations in different years to different objects; so that, in course of time, each branch of knowledge may receive a share. Third, the results obtained from these appropriations to be published, with the memoirs before mentioned, in the volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. Fourth, examples of objects for which appropriations may be made: 1. System of extended meteorological observations for solving the problem of American storms; 2. Explorations in descriptive natural history, and geological, magnetical, and topographical surveys, to collect materials for the formation of a physical atlas of the United States; 3. Solution of experimental problems, such as a new determination of the weight of the earth, of the velocity of electricity and of light; chemical analyses of soils and plants; collection and publication of scientific facts accumulated in the offices of Government; 4. Institution of statistical inquiries with reference to physical, moral, and political subjects; 5. Historical researches, and accurate surveys of places celebrated in American history; 6. Ethnological researches, particularly with reference to the different races of men in North America; also, explorations and accurate surveys of the mounds and other remains of the ancient people of our country.