130 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



branch to which the memoir pertains, and to be accepted for pubHca- 

 tion 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 favor- 

 able decision be 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 remain- 

 ing copies may be offered for sale ; and the other carefully preserved, 

 to form complete sets of the volumes, to supply the demand from new 

 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 

 Congress. 



II. Bij appropriating a portion of the income, annually., to sjiecial objects 

 of research, wider the direction of suitable persons. 



1. The objects, and the amount appropriated, to be recommended 

 by counsellors of the Institution. 



2. Appropriations in different years to different objects ; so that, in 

 course ot" 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. Exam])les of objects lor which appropriations may be made : 

 (1.) System of extended meteorological observations, for solving the 



problem of American storms. 



(2.) Explorations in descriptive natural history, and geological, mag- 

 netical, and topographical surveys, to collect materials for the formation 

 of a Physical Atlas of the United States. 



(3.) Solution of experimental problems, such as a new determination 

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

 chemical analyses of soils and plants ; collection and publication ot 

 articles of science, accumulated in the offices of government. 



(4.) Institution of statistical inquiries with reterence to physical, 

 moral, and political subjects. 



(5.) Historical researches, and accurate surveys of places celebrated 

 in American history. 



(6.) Ethnological researches, particularly with reference to the dif- 

 ferent races of men in North America ; also, explorations and accurate 

 surveys of the mounds and other remains of the ancient people of our 

 country. 



DETAILS OF THE PLAN FOR DIFFUSING KNOWLEDGE. 



I. By the jiublication of a series of reiwrts, giving an account of the 

 new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all 

 branches of knowledge not strictly professional. 



1. These reports will diffuse a kind of knowledge generally interest- 

 ijig, but which, at present, is inaccessible to the public. Some of the 



( 



