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mention one in this place, which, in connexion with the contents of our 

 first memoir, may deserve immediate attention. I allude to a small appro- 

 priation made annually for researches with reference to the remains of the 

 ancient inhabitants of our country. This is a highly interesting field, 

 and what is done in regard to it should be done quickly. Every year the 

 progress of civilization is obliterating the ancient mounds, cities and vil- 

 lages are rising on. the spots they have so long occupied undistnrbed, and the 

 distinctive marks of these remains are every year becoming less and less 

 legible. 



In carrying out the spirit of the plan adopted, namely, that of affecting 

 men in general by the operations of the institution, it is evident that the 

 principal means of diffusing knowledge must be the j37-ess. Though lec- 

 tures should be given in the city in which Sniithson has seen fit to direct 

 the establishment of his institution, yet, as a plan of general ditfusion of 

 knowledge, the system of lectures would be entirely inadequate; every 

 village in our extended country would have a right to demand a share of 

 the benefit, and the income of the institution would be insufficient to supply 

 a thousandth part of the demand. It is also evident that the knowledge 

 diffused should, if possible, not only embrace all branches of general in- 

 terest, so that each reader might find a subject suited to his taste, but also 

 that it should differ in kind and quality from that which can be readily 

 obtained through the cheap publications of the day. These requisites 

 will be fully complied with in the publications of the series of reports pro- 

 posed in the programme. A series of periodicals of this kind, posting up all 

 the discoveries in science from, time to time, and giving a well digested ac- 

 count of all the important changes in the different branches of knowledge, 

 is a desideratum in the English language. The idea is borrowed from a 

 partial plan of diis kind in operation in Sweden and Germany; and for an 

 example of what the work should be, I would refer to the annual report to 

 the Swedish Academy of its perpetual Secretary, Berzelius, on physical 

 science. The reports can be so prepared as to be highly interesting to the 

 general reader, and at the same time of great importance to the exclusive 

 cultivator of a particular branch of knowledge. Full references should 

 be given, in foot-notes, to the page, number, or volume of the work from 

 which the information was obtained, and where a more detailed account 

 can be foluid. It is scarcely necessary to remarlc, that the preparation of 

 these reports should be intrusted only to persons profoundly acquainted 

 with the subjects to which they relate — namely, to those who are devoted 

 to particular branches, while they possess a knowledge of general princi- 

 ples. Suffice lent explanations should be introduced to render the report in- 



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