The National Institute. From an article in the New-York Review of September, 1845, by the Hon. Joseph Ingersoll, Senator from Pennsylvania.
In the beginning of the year 1842, an intercourse was opened which has been already productive of rich results, and may in the future confer immense advantages. Dr. Linn, of the United States Senate, sent to the School of Mines, of Paris, a specimen of oxide of iron taken from the iron mountain of Missouri. It was done at the request of Mr. Alexandre Vattemare, of that city, who had not a great while before visited Washington, and communicated to Dr. Linn, and through him to the "National Institution," the letter of Mons. Dufresnoy, "Chief Engineer and Director of the Royal School of Mines." It is declared to be the ornament of their collections. In the name of the Council of the School he returns thanks "for this magnificent specimen," which he pronounces, notwithstanding its almost gigantic dimensions, (sixty-six millimetres in diameter,) complete in all its parts. Besides its interest in a mineralogical point of view, he adds that the present of Mr. Linn is highly esteemed by them, because it commences the system of exchange which Mr. Vattemare had sought to establish between all the nations of the new and the old continents, and which he says alone can secure the completion of their collections. From the period when this correspondence took place, Mr. Vattemare seems to have devoted his intelligent and active mind to this object. He has been the means of procuring and forwarding to Washington a perpetual supply of splendid and valuable productions. His countrymen are always on the march of improvement in the various departments of the elegant arts. Every description of magnificent engraving has been communicated. Box after box of books has come from him in unmeasured profusion. It would be endless to recapitulate the objects of his friendly contribution. They are referred to emphatically because they have especially served to set in motion that system of exchange, without which nothing can be completely deserving of the name of a collection. That Mr. Vattemare does not weary in his efforts needed no new proof. As lately as the 9th of June, 1845, he announces that he has received for the National Institute, from M. Le Brun, Peer of France, Director of the Royal Printing-office, etc., the complete collection of the Journal des Savans, from 1816 to 1845, twenty-nine quarto volumes, bound. "This most interesting and valuable collection," he says, "was last year granted to the National Institute at the request of M. Le Brun, by the Minister of Justice, etc. M. Le Brun has also sent to me a copy of his works, to be presented to the Institute as a token of his friendship and good wishes. From the War department of France, a complete collection of all the documents and works, illustrated with a great number of maps, etc., of the French possessions in North Africa, including the neighboring States, viz., the Empires of Morocco, Tunis, etc., published by order and under the superintendence of the Minister of War—sixteen volumes, folio, quarto, and octavo. From the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, twenty-five works on Agriculture and Commerce. From the Minister of the Interior, a beautiful collection of bronze medals, commemorative of national events, from 1830 to 1844 inclusive. From M. M. Flourens, Perpetual Secretary of the Academy of Sciences, Member of the Académie Française, etc., his last two works. From M. M. Barre and Danton, sculptors, two beautiful little statues, one of the late Duc d'Orleans, the other of Miss Adélaide Kemble as Norma. From M. Picot, Member of the Academy of Fine Arts, etc., two fine engravings, taken from two of his pictures. From the Société Séricicole, (founded in 1838, for the encouragement and promotion of silk manufacturing in France,) the complete collection of its annals from its foundation to the present year—nine volumes, octavo." "All the above works, with many others, are heaped up, and occupy so much room in my office, that I can scarcely move about in it, and this number is daily increasing." One is impressed with mingled feelings of pleasure and mortification at reading this letter, for while it thus exhibits a prolific interest in the Institute, it unfolds in the following paragraph how little is the encouragement or gratitude for his substantial friendship and zeal:
"It is a matter of great distress to me not to have it in my power to defray all the expenses of packing, of custom-house dues, commissions, and transportation from Paris to Washington, but I really cannot do it. Recollect that since 1839 to the present time, I have devoted all my time, industry and fortune, to the exclusive object of establishing an intellectual union between Europe and America; that I have never received the slightest pecuniary assistance from my own country; and that the first and only encouragement of that character ever vouchsafed to me was the amount of two hundred dollars, so generously subscribed last year by the members of the National Institute, and two hundred and fifty dollars (out of three hundred) voted by the State of Maine. For the maintenance of an agency in Paris for national literary interchanges, the State of Massachusetts, stimulated by an enlightened and patriotic spirit, voted, during the last session of its Legislature, a like most generous allocation. Were all her sister States to follow so noble an example, by voting a small sum, according to their population and their intellectual wants, a fund might easily be established, amply sufficient to cover all the expenses incurred in maintaining an United States scientific and literary agency in Paris, the benefits of which would be incalculable."
On this vital point (of exchanges) a report was made in February, 1842, by Mr. Markoe, the accomplished and indefatigable Corresponding Secretary. It exhibits the very great importance of them, as entering essentially into the plan of every society constituted like this and having like objects in view, and it shows that no occasion has been omitted to acquaint societies and individuals, whose correspondence has been sought or offered, that a system of general exchanges would be entered upon as soon as a plan should be matured. Under that assurance, and independently of it also, (it is added) valuable collections of various kinds have already been received, which render it incumbent on the directors to redeem the pledge that has been given. For this object the members are informed that they have already in hands the most abundant materials, which were increasing, and would continue to increase every day.
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Secretary's office. Harisburg Oct. 25th 1844.
To Alexandre Vattemare esq.