possessors by inheritance, let the trust of James Smithson to the United States of America be faithfully executed by their representatives in Congress, let the result accomplish his object, 'the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men,' and a wreath of more unfading verdure shall entwine itself in the lapse of future ages around the name of SMITHSON, than the united hands of tradition, history, and poetry have braided around the name of Percy through the long perspective in ages past of a thousand years."

The Duke of Northumberland provided a liberal education for his son James, who pursued his studies at Oxford University, where he became attached to Pembroke College, distinguished for having among its fellows the learned Blackstone, the eloquent Whitfield, and the celebrated Dr. Samuel Johnson. Here the young student was noted for diligence, application, and good scholarship, and attracted marked attention by his proficiency in chemistry. His vacations were passed in excursions to collect minerals and ores which it was his favorite occupation to analyze. At Oxford he received the impulse for scientific research which characterized all his future life, and the ardent desire not only to advance knowledge himself but to devote in after years his whole fortune to provide means by which others could prosecute this high and noble pursuit.

He was graduated at Pembroke College on the 26th of May, 1786, as JAMES LEWIS MACIE,* by which name he seems at that time to have been known, and which he retained for about fourteen years, when he adopted that of JAMES SMITHSON.†

Smithson never married, and as a man of wealth had ample opportunity for leisure or the indulgence of mere personal gratification. But idleness and pleasure were not compatible with the spirit and ardor of the young student of chemistry. He diligently pursued his investigations, and his ambition to become associated with the votaries of science induced him to seek membership in the Royal Society of London. "The Royal Society of London," says Arago, "enjoys throughout the whole kingdom a vast and deserved consideration. The philosophical transactions which it publishes have been for more than a century and a half the glorious archives in which British genius holds it an honor to deposit its titles to the recognition of posterity. The wish to see his name inscribed in the list of fellow-laborers in this truly national collection beside the names of Newton, Bradley, Priestley, and Cavendish, has always been among the students of the celebrated universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, and Dublin, the most anxious as well as legitimate object of emulation. Here is always the highest point of ambition of the man of science."

*So given in the Oxford Catalogue. In the Philosophical Transactions and the Gentleman's Magazine the name is given as James Louis Macie.

+ His second paper in the Philosophical Transactions, 1802, is by James Smithson. Sir Davies Gilbert, in his eulogy of him in 1830, calls him James Lewis Smithson.

The following is the official recommendation of his application to the society, bearing the signatures of some of its most illustrious members: "James Lewis Macie, Esq., M. A., late of Pembroke College, Oxford, and now of John Street, Golden Square-a gentleman well versed in various branches of Natural Philosophy, and particularly in Chymistry and Mineralogy, being desirous of becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society, we whose names are hereto subscribed do, from our personal knowledge of his merit, judge him highly worthy of that honour and likely to become a very useful and valuable Member."

RICHARD KIRWAN.
C. F. GREVILLE.
C. BLAGDEN.
H. CAVENDISH.
DAVID PITCAIRN.

He was admitted a fellow on the 26th of April, 1787, in less than one year after leaving the university.*

Smithson's lodgings for some time were in Bentinck street, a locality famous as the place where Gibbon wrote much of his "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." Here, with authors, artists, and savans, Smithson found congenial fellowship. His mind was filled with a craving for intellectual development, and for the advancement of human knowl edge. To enlarge the domain of thought, to discover new truths, and to make practical application of these for the promotion of civilization, were the great ends he had constantly in view.

For purposes of scientific inquiry he engaged in extensive tours in various parts of Europe; making minute observations wherever he went on the climate, the physical features and geological structure of the locality visited, the characteristics of its minerals, the methods employed in mining or smelting ores, and in all kinds of manufactures.

These numerous journeys and sojourns abroad gave him a cosmopolitan character, and illustrated one of his own sayings: "the man of science is of no country, the world is his country, all mankind his coun

* Extract from Journal Book of the Royal Society.

Ordinary meeting, Jan. 18, 1787.-Certificates were read recommending for election Louis Pinto de Sousa Coutinho, Knight of the Orders of Malta and Christ, and Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from the Queen of Portugal to the Court of Great Britain. Also Sir Thomas Gery Cullum, Bart., of Bury Saint Edmunds, in Suffolk, and JAMES LEWIS MACIE, Esq., M. A., late of Pembroke College, Oxford, and now of John Street, Golden Square.

April 19, 1787.-Louis Pinto de Sousa Coutinho, Portuguese Minister at the Court of Great Britain, Sir Thos. Gery Cullum, Bart., and JAMES LEWIS MACIE, Esq., Certificates in whose favour had hung the usual time in the Meeting Room were put to the ballot and chosen into the Society,

April 26, 1787.-JAMES LEWIS MACIE, Esq., and Sir Thos. Gery Cullum, Bart., elected at a former meeting attended. They paid their admission fees, compounded for Annual Contributions, and having signed the obligation in the Charter book were admitted fellows of the Society.