[1] 



10 



provied, every addition will tend to produce a greater proportional 

 amount of useful effect. The proposed increase will be sufficient to pay 

 all the salaries of the officers, and leave the original income in a great 

 measure free to be applied to the objects contemplated in the plan. 



At the last meeting of the Board, Professor Baird of Dickinson College, 

 Penn'a., a gentleman distinguished for his attainments in science was ap- 

 pointed an Assistant Secretary in the department of Natural History. His 

 appointment was made at this time, more particularly in order that his 

 services might be secured to take charge of the publications and that \\'e 

 might avail ourselves of the ample experience which he had gained in this 

 line. He entered on his duties in July last, and besides being actively 

 engaged in organizing the department of Natural History, he has rendered 

 important service in conducting our foreign exchanges and attending to 

 the business of the press. This addition to our force was absolutely 

 necessary to a more efficient discharge of the duties w'hich devolve on us. 

 No person, except from actual experience, can form an idea of the amount 

 of labor required for the transaction of the ordinary business. The cor- 

 respondence alone, is sufficient to occupy two persons continually during 

 the usual office hours. 



During the past year one half of the whole income has been appropri- 

 ated to the building, and after deducting the general expenses, the remain- 

 der has been equally divided between the two great classes of objects 

 designated in the plan. The portion of the income after these divisions, 

 which couhl be devoted to any one object has been necessarily small ; for 

 example, all that could be expended for researches, pul)]ications and lec- 

 tures, and indeed for every thing of Avhich the public at a distance could 

 take immediate cognisance has not exceeded §»4,o00, and yet out of 

 this sum we have been expected to produce results for which the whole 

 income would be entirely inadequate. I trust however, that a proper con- 

 sideration of the facts presented in the remainder of this report, will show 

 that much has been done in proportion to the means at our command. 



PUBLICATION OP ORIGINAL MEMOIRS. 



The important aid which can be rendered to the promotion of know- 

 ledge by the publication, and in some cases by assistance in the prepara- 

 tion of important memoirs, is now beyond all question. Experience has 

 tlius far abunchmtly shown that much more matter of the most valualde 

 character will be presented for publication, free of all charge, than the 

 portion of the income devoted to this object will allow us to publish. In- 

 deed there is now on hand or in preparation, more material of this kind 

 than we shall be able with our limited income, to give to the world in 

 two or three years. In vieAV of this fact, I cannot repress the expression 

 of regret which I have always felt, that the restrictions arising from the 

 requisitions of Congress, do not permit a greater expenditure for this most 

 important object. It is chiefly by the publications of the Institution that 

 its fame is to be spread through the world, and the monument most be- 

 fitting the name of Smithson, erected to his memory. 



Most of the distinguished foreign literary and scientific societies have 

 placed the Institution on their list of exchange, and in many instances have 

 presented not only the current volume of their transactions, but also full 

 sets of the preceding volumes. We have reason to believe that before 



