128 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



monize the two modes of increasing and diffusing knowledge, and to 

 give to the Institution the widest influence compatible with its limited 

 income. That all the propositions will meet with general approval can- 

 not be expected ; and that this organization is the best that could be de- 

 vised is neither asserted nor believed. To produce a priori a plan of 

 organization whicii shall be fcnind to succeed perfectly in practice, and 

 require no amendment, would be difficult under the most favorable cir- 

 cumstances, and becomes almost impossible where conflicting opinions 

 are to be harmonized, and the definite requirements of the act estab- 

 lishing the Institution are to be observed. It is not intended that the 

 details of the organization, as given in the programme, should be per- 

 manently adopted without careful trial ; they are rather presented as 

 suggestions to be adopted provisionally, and to be carried into opera- 

 tion gradually and cautiously, with such changes, from time to time, as 

 experience may dictate. 



PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



[Presented to the Board of Regents, December 8, 1847.] 



INTRODUCTION. 



General considcralions ivhich should serve as a guide in adopting a plan of 



organizatioji. 



1. Will of Smithson. The property is bequeathed to the United 

 States of America, "to found at Washington, under the name of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, an establil?hmcnt for the increase and diffusion 

 of knowledge among men." 



2. The bequest is tor the benefit of mankind. The government of the 

 United Slates is merely a trustee to carry out the design of the testator. 



3. The Institution is not a national establishment, as is frequently 

 supposed, but the establishment of an individual, and is to bear and 

 perpetuate his name. 



4. The objects of the Institution are — 1st, to increase, and 2d, to dif- 

 fuse, knowledge among men. 



5. These two objects should not be confounded with one another. 

 The first is to increase the existing stock of knowledge by the addition 

 of new truths; and the second to disseminate knowledge, thus in- 

 creased, among men. 



6. The will makes no restriction in favor of any particular kind of 

 knowledge ; hence all branches are entitled to a share of attention. 



7. Knowledge can be increased by different methods of facilitating 

 and promoting the discovery of new truths, and can be most efficiently 

 diffused among men by means of the press. 



8. To effect the greatest amount of good, the organization should be 

 such as to enable the Institution to produce results in the way of 

 increasing and diffusing knowledge, which cannot be produced by the 

 existing institutions in our country. 



9. The organization sliould also be such as can be adopted provi- 

 sionally, can be easily reduced to practice, receive modifications, or be- 

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



