OP ARTS AND SCIENCES. 191 



" Upon the whole, the committee think very favorably of all parts 

 of the plan for increasing knowledge, and feel no doubt that it would 

 afford important encouragement to scientific pursuits. To suppose that 

 it will create an era in science, or throw into the shade the ordinary 

 educational and intellectual influences at work in the country, would 

 be extravagant. It is enough, and all that can be expected, if it be a 

 rational plan for appropriating moderate means toward the attainment 

 of a desirable end. 



" To fulfil the other objects of the trust, viz. to 'diffuse knowledge,' 

 the Secretary proposes to publish ' a series of reports, giving an ac- 

 count of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made 

 from year to year in all branches of knowledge not strictly profes- 

 sional.' These reports are to be prepared by collaborators most emi- 

 nent in their several departments, who are to receive a compensation 

 for their labors ; the collaborator to be furnished with all the journals 

 and other publications necessary to the preparation of his report. 



" The following enumeration of the proposed subjects of these 

 reports will give the Academy a full conception of this part of the 

 plan. •♦ 



" ' I. PHYSICAL CLASS. 



" ' 1. Physics, including Astronomy, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, 

 and Meteorology. 



" ' 2. Natural History, including Botany, Zoology, and Geology. 



" ' 3. Agriculture. 



" ' 4. Application of Science to Arts. 



" ' II. MORAL AND POLITICAL CLASS. 



" ' 5. Ethnology, including Particular History, Comparative Philol- 

 ogy, Antiquities, &c. 



" ' 6. Statistics and Political Economy. 



" ' 7. Mental and Moral Philosophy. 



" ' 8. A Survey of the Political Events of the World ; Penal Re- 

 form, &c. 



" ' III. LITERATURE AND THE FINE ARTS. 



" ' 9. Modern Literature. 



" ' 10. The Fine Arts, and their application to the useful arts. 



" ' 11. Bibliography. 



" ' 12. Obituary notices of distinguished individuals.' 



