The materials for a biography of James Smithson are exceedingly scanty, and no life of him has ever been published. Efforts have several times been made by the Smithsonian Institution to procure facts and incidents relative to its founder, and during the present year unusual exertions were put forth for this purpose.
Nothing new has been elicited however from these recent inquiries, and Mr. Rhees has collected all the information likely to be obtained and presents it, for the first time, as an authentic account of the distinguished man who was no less noted for his own scientific attainments than for his remarkable bequest.
The following pages include a sketch of his life, list of his writings, notices of his death, and tributes to his memory.
It also gives a concise account of the manner in which the legacy was obtained by the United States, of the legislation of Congress in relation to its acceptance and disposition, and of the final passage of the "Act to establish the Smithsonian Institution.”
WASHINGTON, October, 1880.
SPENCER F. BAIRD,
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.