96 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



1^. It. sliould be recollectod tli.at iiiiiiikind in {general are to bebenelited l)y the be- 

 (lutist, and that, therefore, all unnecessary expenditure on local objects would be a 

 jierver.sion of the trust. 



lA. Besides the foregoing considerations, deduced immediately from the will of 

 Sniithson, regard must be had to certain requii'eraents of the act of Congress estab- 

 lishing the Institution. These are, a library, a musemii, ajid a gallery of art, with a 

 building on a liberal siiaXe to contain thoni. 



Section I. 



Plan of organization of the Institution in accordance with the foregoing deduc- 

 tions from the will of Smithson, 



To increase kvowJedge : It proposed (1) to .stimulate men of talent to make original 

 researches, by ofiering 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 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 interc-t. 



DETAILS OF THE PLAN TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE. 



I. By stinnilntinfj researches. — 1. Facilities afforded for the production of original 

 memoirs on all branches of knowledge. 2 The memoirs thus obtained to be pub- 

 lished in a series of volumes, in a quarto form, and entitled Smithsonian Contribu- 

 tions to Knowledge. ;?. No memoir, on subjects of physical science, to be accepted 

 for publication, which does not furnish a positive addition to human knowledge, rest- 

 ing on original research ; and all unverified speculations to be rejected. 4. Each me- 

 moir i)roscuted to the Institution to be submitted for examination to acommi.ssion of 

 persons of reputation for learning in the branch to which the memoir pertains ; and to 

 bo accepted for publication 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, unless a favorable decision be made. C. The 

 volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transactions of 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 otiered for sale ; and the other 

 carefully preserved, to form complete sets of the work, to supply the demand from uew 

 institutions. 7. An abstract, or popular account, of the contents of these memoirs 

 to be given to the public through the annual report of the Regents to Congre-ss. 



II, />// appropriating a part, of the income, annnallij, to special objects of research, under 

 the direction of suitable persons. — 1. The ol)ject8 and the amount appropriated to be 

 recommended by counselors of the Institution. 2. Appropriations in ditierent 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, (a) 

 System of extended meteorological observations for solving the problem of American 

 storms, (b) Explorations in descriptive natural history and geological, magnetical, 

 and topographical surveys, to collect materials for the formation of a physical atlas 

 of the United States (c) Solution of experimental problems, such as a new deter- 

 mination of the weight of the earth, of the velocity of electricity, and of light; 

 chemical analyses of soils and plants ; collection and ]tublication of scientific facts 

 accumulated in the offices of Government, (d) Institution of statistical inquiries with 

 reference to physical, moral, and political subjects, (e) Historical researches and 

 accurate surveys of jilaces celebrated in American history. (/") Ethnological re- 

 .searclies, particularly with reference to the different races of men in North America ; 

 also, exploratiims and accurate surveys of the mounds and other remains of the an- 

 cient people of our country. 



