96 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



13. It Bbonld bo rocollt'ctod that uuinkind iu {^eucral are to bo ])enelited by the be- 

 quest, and tliat, therefore, all uuuecessary expenditure on local objects would be a 

 perversion of the trust. 



14. Besides the foregolnij cousideratif)ns, deduced immediately from the will of 

 Smithson, regard must be had to certain requirements of the act of Congress estab- 

 lishing the Institution. These are, a library, a museuui, aiid a gallery of art, with a 

 building on a liberal scale to coutaiu them. 



Section I. 



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

 tions from the will of Smithson, 



To increase knowledge : It i)roposcd (1) to stimulate men of talent to njake original 

 researches, by offering suitable rewards for memoirs containing new truths ; and (2) 

 to ai>propriate annually a portion of the income for i>articular researches, under the 

 direction of suitable jtersous. 



To diffuse knowledge : It is jjroposed (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. 2 The memoirs thus obtained to be pub- 

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

 tions to Knowledge. 3. No memoir, on subjects of physical science, to be accepted 

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

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

 moir ])rescuted to the Institution to be submitted for examination to a commission of 

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

 be accepted for publication only in case the report of this conunissiou is favorable. 

 5. The commission to bo chosen by the officers of the Institution, and the name of the 

 author, as far as practicable, concealed, unless a favorable decision bo 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 colleges and principal libraries in this 

 country. One part of the remaining copies maj' be offered for sale ; aud the other 

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

 institutions. 7. An abstract, or i)opular account, of the contents of these memoirs 

 to be given to the public through the annual report of the Regents to Congress. 



II. Bji appropriating a part of the income, annnaJhj, to special objects of research, under 

 the direction of suitahle persons. — 1. The objects and the amount appropriated to be 

 recommended by counselors of the Institution. 2. Appropriations iu difiereut 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. (/>) Explorations in descriptive natural history aud geological, inagnetical, 

 and topograi)hical 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 publication of scientific facts 

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

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

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

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

 also, explorations and accurate surveys of the mounds and other rciuuins of the an- 

 cient i>eople of our couutiry.. 



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