8 PEOGEA^klME OF OEGATaZATIOX. 



be considered, but also the continual expense of keeping it in repair, 

 and of the support of the establishnieut necessarily connected with it. 

 There should also be but few individuals i>ermanently supported by the 

 Institution. 



12. The plan and dimensions of the building should be determined by 

 the plan of the organization, and not the converse. 



13. It should be recollected that mankind in general are to be bene- 

 fited by the bequest, and that, theretore, all unnecessary exijeuditure on 

 local objects vrouid be a perversion of the trust. 



14. Besides the foregoing considerations, deduced immediately from 

 the wiU of Smithson, regard must be had to certain requirements of the 

 act of Congress establishing the Institution. These are, a library, a 

 museum, and a gallery of art, with a builcUng on a liberal scale to con- 

 tain them. 



SECTIOX I. 



Plan of organization of tlw Institution in accordance icith the foregoing 

 deductions from the icill of Smithson. 



To rXCEEASE EZN'OTTLEDGE. It is propOSCd — 



1. To stimulate men of talent to make original researches, by offering 

 suitable rewards for memoirs containing new truths; and, 



2. To appropriate annually a portion of the income for particular 

 researches, under the direction of suitable persons. 



To DUTirsE e:n*owxedge. It is proposed — 



1. To publish a series of periodical reports on the progTCSs of the dif- 

 ferent branches of knowledge; and, 



2. To publish occasionally separate treatises on subjects of general 

 interest. 



DETAILS OF THE FLAX TO FN'OKEASE KNOWLEDGE. 

 I. By stimulating researches. 



1. Facilities afforded for the production of 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 pub- 

 lication which does not furnish a positive addition to human knowledge, 

 resting on original research; and all unverified speculations to be re- 

 jected. 



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 i:)ertains; and to be accepted for publica- 

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



5. The commission to be chosen by the ofiicers of the Institution, and 

 the name oi the author, as far as practicable, concealed, unless a favora- 

 ble decision is made. 



6. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transactions 

 of literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to all the col- 

 leges and principal libraries in this country. One part of the remaining 

 copies may be offered for sale, and the other carefully preserved, to foiin 

 comx)iete sets of the Vvork, to sui>ply the demand from new institutions. 



