of science, but it is said that a disagreement with the council of the society on account of the non-acceptance of one of his papers probably led him to abandon the idea. This circumstance is of importance as indicating the bent of his mind and the mode in which he proposed to benefit mankind. The difficulty referred to, however, undoubtedly led him to give broader scope to his plan, and to choose a trustee for his endowment who would be hampered by no conventional or traditional restric tions, and who would understand and carry out his purposes in the most liberal and practical manner.†

It is peculiarly gratifying to Americans to remember that the first award made by the Council of the Royal Society of the Copley medal, the most honorable within its gift, was to our own countryman, Benjamin Franklin, who was adjudged to be the author of the most important scientific discovery. On this occasion the president of the society stated that the council, "keeping steadily in view the advancement of science and useful knowledge, and the honor of the society, had never thought of confining the benefaction within the narrow limits of any particular country, much less of the society itself."

As this was the spirit of the leading scientific organization in existence, of which Smithson himself was an active and honored member, he well exemplified its liberal principles by transferring his foundation of a great establishment for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge among men" from London to the city of Washington.

Smithson received a large estate from his half brother, Colonel Henry Louis Dickinson, in trust for the benefit of the son of this brother as well as of his mother. To this nephew, to whom he was probably attached, or because he had derived a large part of his fortune from his father, he left his whole fortune. Contingent on the death of this young man, he made the remarkable provision of an establishment in the United States which has secured for him the distinction of being a benefactor of mankind.

*The charter states that the Royal Society was founded for the improvement of natural knowledge. This epithet natural, Dr. Paris remarks, "was intended to imply a meaning of which very few persons are aware. At the period of the establishment of the society the arts of witchcraft and divinations were very extensively encouraged, and the word natural was therefore introduced in contradistinction to supernatural.” Hooke, the president, declared, in 1663, that "the business and design of the Royal Society was to improve the knowledge of natural things, and all useful arts, manufac tures, mechanick practises, engynes and inventions by experiments-(not meddlin with divinity, metaphysics, moralls, politicks, grammar, rhetorick, or logick.)” Dr. Wollaston had made a gift of £1,000 to the Royal Society, the interest hi was to be annually applied towards the encouragement of experiments.

"Our countrymen do not believe that America is more advanced in knowle refinement than Europe; but they know that, with slight divergencies, both spheres are in this respect nearly abreast of each other. And they know that, a ch being yet far from the goal, their generous transatlantic rivals start unencumbered by many old prejudices and social trammels which we cannot here escape from."—(Tait's Edinburgh Magazine, 1832, p. 234.)

of science, but it is said that a disagreement with the council of the society on account of the non-acceptance of one of his papers probably led him to abandon the idea. This circumstance is of importance as indicating the bent of his mind and the mode in which he proposed to benefit mankind. The difficulty referred to, however, undoubtedly led him to give broader scope to his plan, and to choose a trustee for his endowment who would be hampered by no conventional or traditional restric tions, and who would understand and carry out his purposes in the most liberal and practical manner.†

It is peculiarly gratifying to Americans to remember that the first award made by the Council of the Royal Society of the Copley medal, the most honorable within its gift, was to our own countryman, Benjamin Franklin, who was adjudged to be the author of the most important scientific discovery. On this occasion the president of the society stated that the council, "keeping steadily in view the advancement of science and useful knowledge, and the honor of the society, had never thought of confining the benefaction within the narrow limits of any particular country, much less of the society itself."

As this was the spirit of the leading scientific organization in existence, of which Smithson himself was an active and honored member, he well exemplified its liberal principles by transferring his foundation of a great establishment for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge among men" from London to the city of Washington.

Smithson received a large estate from his half brother, Colonel Henry Louis Dickinson, in trust for the benefit of the son of this brother as well as of his mother. To this nephew, to whom he was probably attached, or because he had derived a large part of his fortune from his father, he left his whole fortune. Contingent on the death of this young man, he made the remarkable provision of an establishment in the United States which has secured for him the distinction of being a benefactor of mankind.

*The charter states that the Royal Society was founded for the improvement of natural knowledge. This epithet natural, Dr. Paris remarks, "was intended to imply a meaning of which very few persons are aware. At the period of the establishment of the society the arts of witchcraft and divinations were very extensively encouraged, and the word natural was therefore introduced in contradistinction to supernatural.” Hooke, the president, declared, in 1663, that "the business and design of the Royal Society was to improve the knowledge of natural things, and all useful arts, manufactures, mechanick practises, engynes and inventions by experiments—(not meddling with divinity, metaphysics, moralls, politicks, grammar, rhetorick, or logick.)"

Dr. Wollaston had made a gift of £1,000 to the Royal Society, the interest of which was to be annually applied towards the encouragement of experiments.

"Our countrymen do not believe that America is more advanced in knowledge and refinement than Europe; but they know that, with slight divergencies, both heinispheres are in this respect nearly abreast of each other. And they know that, both being yet far from the goal, their generous transatlantic rivals start unencumbered by many old prejudices and social trammels which we cannot here escape from."—(Tait's Edinburgh Magazine, 1832, p. 234.)