[23] 



184 



visitors at Washington may see new objects, and the spirit of the plan he 

 kept up, of interesting the greatest possible number of individuals. A per- 

 fect collection of all objects of nature and of art, if such could be obtained 

 and deposited in one place, would form a museum of the highest interest; 

 but the portion of the income of the bequest which caw be devoted to the 

 increase and maintenance of the museum, will be too small to warrant 

 any attempt towards an indiscriminate collection. It is hoped that in due 

 time other means may be found of establishing and supporting a general 

 collection of objects of nature and art at the seat of the general govern- 

 ment, with funds not derived from the Smithsonian bequest. For the 

 present, it should be the object of the institution to confine the application 

 of the funds, first, to such collections as will tend to facilitate the study of 

 the memoirs which may be published in the Contributions, and to estab- 

 lish their correctness; secondly, to the purchase of such objects as are not 

 generally known in this country, in the way of art, and the illustration of 

 antiquities, such as models of buildings, &c.; and, thirdly, to the formation 

 of a collection of instruments of physical research, which will be required 

 both in the illustration of new physical truths, and in the scientific inves- 

 tigations undertaken by the institution. 



Much popular interest may be awakened in favor of the institution 

 at Washington, by throwing the rooms of the building open, on stated 

 evenings during the session of Congress, for literary and scientific assem- 

 blies, after the manner of the weekly meetings of the Royal Institution in 

 London. At these meetings, without the formality of a regular lecture^ 

 new truths in science may be illustrated, and new objects of art exhibited. 

 Besides these, courses of lectures may be given on particular subjects by 

 the officers of the institution, or by distinguished individuals invited for 

 the purpose. 



Commencement of the operatmis of the institution. 



I was authorized, in connexion with the Committee on Organization, to 

 commence the publication of the Smithsonian Contributions to Kuowl- 

 edge, and to receive any memoir which might be presented on any subject, 

 provided it was found, on examination, to furnish an interesting addition 

 to the sum of human knowledge, resting on original research. The 

 first memoir presented, and found to be of the character prescribed by 

 the resolution of the board, was one on the remains of the ancient in- 

 habitants of the North American continent. It contains the result ot 

 several years' labor in the survey and exploration of the mounds and earth- 

 works of the Mississippi valley, and will fiu-nish a highly interesting addi- 

 tion to the antiquities of our country, which could not have been given to 

 the world, but for the timely aid extended to it by this institution. The 

 memoir was referred to the American Ethnological Society, with a request 

 that a committee of its members might be appointed to examine and re- 

 port on its character, as to fitness for publication in the Smithsonian Con- 

 tributions to Knowledge. On the favorable report of this committee, and 

 on the responsibility of the society, the memoir has been accepted for pub- 

 lication. The following correspondence will serve to give an account of 

 the work, and to illustrate the manner in which it is proposed to submit the 

 papers which may be presented for pubUcation to a commission of com- 

 petent judges. 



