8 PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION. 



9. The organization should also be such as can be adopted i^rovis- 

 ioually ; can be easily reduced to practice ; receive modifications, or be 

 abandoned, in whole or in part, without a sacrifice of the funds. 



10. In order to compensate in some measure for the loss of time occa- 

 sioned by the delay of eight years in establishing the Institution, a 

 considerable i)ortion of the interest which has accrued should be added 

 to the principal. 



11. In proportion to the wide field of knowledge to be cultivated, the 

 funds are small. Economy should, therefore, be consulted in the con- 

 struction of the building- ; and not only the first cost of the edifice 

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

 repair, and of the support of the establishment necessarily^ connected 

 with it. There should also be but few individuals permanently sup- 

 ported by the Institution. 



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

 by the plan of organization, and not the converse. 



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

 fited by the bequest, and that, therefore, all unnecessary expenditure 

 on local objects would be a perversion of the trust. 



14. Besides the foregoing considerations, deduced immediately from 

 the will 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 building on a liberal scale to con- 

 tain them. 



SECTION I. 



Plan of organization of the Institution in accordance icith the foregoing 

 deductions from the will of iSmithson. 



To INCREASE KNOWLEDGE. 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 i)articular re- 

 searches, under the direction of suitable persons. 



To DIFFUSE KNOWLEDGE. It is proposed — 



1. To publish a series of periodical reports on the progress of the 

 different branches of knowledge ; and, 



2. To publish occasionally separate treatises on subjects of general 

 interest. 



DETAILS OF THE PLAN TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE. 



I. By stimulating researches. 



1. Facilities afforded for the production of original memoirs on all 

 branches of knowledge. 



