9 [ 108 J 



clrrk hire in recording" llic (ilk'saud liiruisliino- ihc ri'rlillcitlt's ofdcposii, 

 has more than equalled Ihe value to us of all the books received. Lastly, 

 it has l)een estimated that the publication of a new edition of the expensive 

 volumes of the results of the Exploring Expedition would cost at least fifty 

 thousand dollars. Foriunat(dy, it has not been (Xjiisidcrod obligatory on 

 the histilution, cxcr]ii in Ibe cns(: of the copyright law, lo accept these 

 gilts. 



Puhlicatlan of 7nnnoir>:. — Since the adoption of the })!aii of organization, 

 nearly fifty original lueuioirs, purporting to be additions (o the stun oi' human 

 knowledge, h.ave been jiresented to the Institution for publication. Though 

 a number of these have been letuiiied lo their authors, princi]ial!y on account 

 of not failing within the restricted class of communications acce])ted for pub- 

 lication, yet they have generally been productions of much merit, and have 

 evinced a surprising activity of mind, and manifest a growing attention in 

 this country to original j-esearch. The probable success of this part of 

 the plan of organization was not overrated; for, w^ere the whole income of 

 the institution devoteil alone to ])ublishing the residts of the labors of men 

 of literature and of science, which otherwise Vvould never see the light, it 

 could be profitably expended. In this respect, the Smithsonian bequest 

 supplies the wants which iji Eiu'ope are met by richly eiidowed academies 

 and national societies. 



It will be recollected that each memoir is printed separiUely, and with a 

 separate title and paging, so that it can be distributed to persons most in- 

 terested in its })erusal as soon as it comes from the press, without waiting 

 for the completion of the volume to which it belongs. In this way, the 

 author is enabled to present a full account of his discoveries to the world 

 with the least possible delay, while, by the rules of the Institution, he is al- 

 lowed to publish an abstract of his paper in the proceedings of the Amer- 

 ican Association for the advancement of science, or in those of any other 

 pro])erly organized society. 



The number of copies of the Smithsonian Contributions distributed is 

 greater than that of the transactions of any scientific or literary society, 

 and therefore the Institution offers the best medium to be found for diffusing 

 a knowledge of scientific discoveries. 



Every memoir pu.blished by the Institution is issued with the stam?- of ap- 

 proval of a commission of competent judges, and in order to secure a cau- 

 tious and candid opinion, the name of the author, and those of the exam- 

 iners, are not made known to each other unless a favorable report is given, 

 and, in this case, the names of the commission are printed, as vouchei's Jor 

 the character of the memoir, on the reverse of the title-page. 



This plan secures an untrammelled expression of opinion, while it induces 

 caution on account of the responsibility which it involves. 



Besides deciding on the fitness of original memoirs for publication, the 

 Institution is continually applied to for information relative to almost every 

 department of literature and science. Respectful attention is always given 

 to these applications, and when the desired answer does not fall within the 

 line of study of any officer of the Institution, it is sought for from those in 

 whose knowledge and judgment we have full confidence. No inconsiderable 

 ])ortion of time is occupied in giving the information involved in the answer 

 to these inquiries : but I am hap})y to inform the board that in this service, 

 as well as in that of examining memoirs, we have received the co-operation 

 of a considerable number of the most distinguished individaals in our coun 



