194 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



memoirs and treatises on important subjects of investigation, and to 

 offer pecuniary encouragement to men of talent and attainment to 

 engage in scientific research. It is believed that no institution in the 

 country effects either of these objects to any great extent. The 

 nearest approach to it is the practice of the Academy, and other philo- 

 sophical societies, of publishing the memoirs adopted by them. These, 

 however, can rarely be works of great compass. No systematic plan 

 of compensation for the preparation of works of scientific research is 

 known by the committee to have been attempted in this or any other 

 country. It can scarcely be doubted that an important impulse would 

 be given by the Institution, in this way, to the cultivation of scientific 

 pursuits ; while the extensive and widely ramified system of distribu- 

 tion and exchange, by which the publications are to be distributed 

 throughout the United States and the world, would secure them a circu- 

 lation which works of science could scarcely attain in any other way. 



" It is an obvious characteristic of this mode of applying the funds 

 of the Institution, that its influence would operate most widely through- 

 out the country ; that locality would be of comparatively litde im- 

 portance as far as this influence is concerned ; and that the Union 

 would become, so to say, in this respect, a great school of mutual 

 instruction. 



" The committee' would remark, in conclusion, that, in a plan of 

 operations of this kind, very much depends upon the activity and 

 intelligence with which it is administered. The character of the 

 Board of Regents is a sufficient warrant for the prudence and good 

 judgment which will watch over the general interests of the founda- 

 tion ; while the reputation of the Secretary and his assistant, the 

 Librarian, is so well established in their respective departments, as to 

 render any tribute from the committee entirely superfluous. 



" All which is respectfully submitted by the committee. 



EDWARD EVERETT, {Chairman,) 

 JARED SPARKS, 

 BENJAMIN PEIRCE, 

 HENRY W. LONGFELLOW, 



ASA GRAY. 



" Decemher 4th, 1847." 



Note. — " Professor Agassiz was named of the committee, but, 

 owing to his absence at the South, was unable to take part in the 

 preparation of this report." 



