OX THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE. 21 



falling withm the restricted class of communications accepted for publica- 

 tion, yet they have generally been productions of much merit, and have 

 evinced a surprising activity of mind, and manifest a growing attention in 

 this country to original research. The probable success of this part of the 

 plan of organization was not overrated ; for, were the whole income of the 

 institution devoted alone to publishing the results of the labors of men of 

 literature and of science, which otherwise would never see the light, it 

 could be profitably expended. In this respect, the Smithsonian bequest 

 supplies the wants which in Europe are met by richly endowed academies 

 and national societies. 



Each memoir is printed separately, and with a separate title and paging, 

 so that it can be distributed to persons most interested in its perusal as 

 soon as it comes from the press, without waiting for the completion of the 

 volume to which it belongs. In this way, the author is enabled to present 

 a full account of his discoveries to the world with the least possible delay, 

 while, by the rules of the Institution, he is allowed to publish an abstract 

 of his paper in the proceedings of the American Association for the ad- 

 vancement of science, or in those of any other properly organized society. 

 The number of copies of the Smithsonian Contributions distributed, is 

 greater than that of the transactions of any scientific or literary society, 

 and therefore, the Institution offers the best medium to be found for diffus- 

 ing a knowledge of scientific discoveries. Every memoir published by the 

 Institution is issued with a stamp of approval of a commission of compe- 

 tent judges, and in order to secure a cautious and candid opinion, the 

 name of the author, and those of the examiners, are not made known to 

 each other unless a favorable report is given; and, in this case, the names 

 of the commission are printed, as vouchers for the character of the me- 

 moir, on the reverse of the title-page. 



This plan secures an untrammelled expression of opinion, while it 

 induces caution on account of the responsibility which it involves. 



That the encouragement of the discovery of new truths, the publication 

 of original memoirs, and the establishment of new researches, are in con- 

 formity with the design of Smithson, is not only manifest from the terms 

 of his will, but also from the fact, which has lately come to our knowledge, 

 that he at first left his property to the Royal Society of London, for the very 

 object embraced in this part of the plan. And what prouder monument 

 could any man desire than the perpetual association of his name with a 

 series of new truths ! This building and all its contents may be des- 

 troyed, but the volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions, distributed as 

 they are among a thousand libraries, are as wide-spread and lasting a 8 

 civilization itself. 



The following memoirs have been recently published by the Smithsonian 



