THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 167 



the results of extensive original surveys and explorations by E. G- 

 Squier, A. M., and E. H. Davis, M. D. It is illustrated by forty-eight 

 hthographic plates, and by two hundred and seven wood engravings. 

 The mechanical execution of the volume will heiir comparison with 

 tliat of any publication ever issued from the American press. 



In the publication of the first volume of the Contributions, the ques- 

 tion occurred as to the propriety of securing the copyrigiit to the Insti- 

 tution. I had not an opportunity of conferring with the Executive 

 Committee on this point, and was therefore obliged to settle it on my own 

 responsibihty. I concluded that it would be more in accordance with 

 the spirit of the Institution to decide against the cop^'right. The 

 knowledge which the Smithsonian Institution may be instrumental in 

 presenting to the world should be free to all who are capable of using 

 it. The republication of our papers ought to be considered as an evi- 

 dence of their importance, and should be encouraged rather than pro- 

 hibited. 



The first memoir occupies an entire volume, and this accidental cir- 

 cumstance has given rise to a misconception of the plan. It has been 

 supposed that each volume of the Smithsonian Contributions is, in like 

 manner, to consist of a separate treatise on a particular subject selected 

 with a view to popular interest. But such is not the case ; each volume 

 will generally contain a number of separate memoirs, on difTerent 

 branches of knowledge, similar to the usual published transactions of 

 learned societies. The only reason why the first volume is occupied 

 with a subject of general interest ratlier th;ni one on some more ab- 

 struse branch of science is, that the memoir it contains was the Jirst 

 which was presented of the character pj-escribed by the plan. No 

 preference is to be given to any branch of knowledge. The only ques- 

 tions to be asked, in considering the acceptance of a memoir, are, 

 whether it is a positive addition to knowledge, resting on original re- 

 search, and of sufficient importance to merit a place in the Smithsonian 

 Contributions. 



The rules adopted for the acceptance of a memoir are the same a? 

 those generally followed by learned societies. The memoir is surren- 

 dered by the author to the Institution, and no additions or alteration? 

 are allowed to be made after it has been submitted to the commission 

 appointed to examine it, unless by their consent. A certain number 

 of copies is presented to the author for distribution, with the privilege 

 of striking off", at his own expense, additional copies for sale ; which 

 in most cases, particularly when the memoir is of popular interest, 

 will be all the remuneration expected by the author. 



From what has been said, it will be evident th.it the papers pub- 

 lished in the Contributions cannot generally be of a popular nature. 

 The popular effects to be produced by the Institution are principally 

 those which may be attained by the reports on the progress of the dif- 

 ferent branches of knowledge, and by the occasi*)nal publications in 

 connexion with these of separate treatises on some subject of special 

 interest. 



Applications have been made for the first volume of the Contribu- 

 tions from many academies and private institutions ; and were our 

 means sufficient, we would be pleased to supply all demands of this 



