PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION. 9 



the branch to which the memoir pertains ; and to be accepted for 

 publication 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 favorable' decision be made. 



6. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transac- 

 tions of literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to all 

 the colleges and principal libraries in this country. One part of the 

 remaining copies may be offered for sale ; and the other carefully pre- 

 served, to form complete sets of the work, to supply the demand 

 from new institutions. 



7. An abstract, or popular account, of the contents of these me- 

 moirs to be given to the public through the annual report of the Re- 

 gents to Congress. 



II. — By appropriating a part of the income^ annually, to special objects 

 of research, under 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 of 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 Smithso- 

 nian Contributions to Knowledge. 



4. Examples of objects for 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, 

 magnetical, 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 determina- 

 tion of the weight of the earth, of the velocity of electricity, and 

 of light ; chemical analyses of soils and plants ; collection and pub- 

 lication of scientific facts accumulated in the offices of government. 



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

 moral, and political subjects. 



(5.) Historical researches and accurate surveys of places cele- 

 brated in American history. 



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

 different races of men in North America ; also, explorations and ac- 

 curate surveys of the mounds and other remains of the ancient peo- 

 ple of our country. 



DETAILS OF THE PLAN FOR DIFFUSING KNOWLEDGE. 



I. — By the publication of a series of reports, giving an account of the 

 neio 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 inter 

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



