188 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



" These methods of increasing knowledge are farther unfolded in 

 the following ' Detail of the Plan ' for that purpose. 



" ' I. By stimulating researches. 



" ' 1. Rewards consisting of money, medals, &c., offered for original 

 memoirs on all branches of knowledge. 



" ' 2. The memoirs thus obtained to be published in a series of 

 volumes in a quarto form, and entitled Smithsonian Contributions to 

 Knowledge. 



" ' 3. No memoir, on subjects of physical science, to be accepted for 

 publication which does not furnish a positive addition to human knowl- 

 edge ; and all unverified speculations to be rejected. 



" ' 4. Each memoir presented to the Institution to be submitted for 

 examination to a commission of persons of reputation for learning in 

 the branch to which the memoir pertains, and to be accepted for pub- 

 lication only in case the report of this commission is favorable. 



" ' 5. The commission to be chosen by the officers of the Institution, 

 and the name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed until a 

 favorable decision shall have been made. 



" ' 6. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transac- 

 tions of all literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to 

 all the colleges and principal libraries in this country. One part of 

 the remaining copies may be offered for sale ; and the other carefully 

 preserved, to form complete sets of the work, to supply the demand 

 from new institutions. 



" ' 7. An abstract or popular account of the contents of these me- 

 moirs should be given to the public through the annual report of the 

 Regents to Congress. 



" ' II. By appropriating a portion of the income annually to special 

 objects of research, under the direction of suitable persons. 



" ' 1. The objects and the amount appropriated to be recommended 

 by Counsellors of the Institution. 



" ' 2. Appropriation in different years to different objects ; so that in 

 course of time each branch of knowledge may receive a share. 



" ' 3. The results obtained from these appropriations to be published 

 with the memoirs before mentioned in the volumes of the Smithsonian 

 Contributions to Knowledge. 



" ' 4. Examples of objects for which appropriations may be made : — 



