30 Mis. No. 48. 



• 



to that which exchides from the contributions all papers consisting merely 

 of unverified speculations on subjects of physical science. The object of 

 this proposition is to obviate the endless difficulties which would occur in 

 rejecting papers of an un philosophical character; and though it may in 

 some cases exclude an interesting communication, yet the strict observance 

 of it will be found of so much practical importance that it cannot be dis- 

 pensed with. It has been supposed, from the adojition of this proposition, 

 that we are disposed to undervalue abstract speculations: on the contrary, 

 we know that all the advances in true science— namely, a knowledge of 

 the laws of phenomena — are made by provisionally adopting well-condi- 

 tioned hypotheses, the product of the imagination, and subsequently veri- 

 fying them by an appeal to experiment and observation. Every new hy- 

 pothesis of scientific value musf not only furnish an exact explanation of 

 known facts, but must also enable us to predict, in kind and quantify, the 

 phenomena which will be exhibited under any given combinaiion of cir- 

 cumstances. Thus, in the case of the undulatory hypothesis of light, it 

 was inferred, as a logical consequence, that if the supposition were true 

 that light consisted of waves of an ethereal medium, then two rays of light, 

 like two waves of water under certain conditions, should annihilate each 

 other, and darkness be produced. The experiment was tried, and the 

 anticipated result was obtained. It is this exact agreement of the deduc- 

 tion with the actual result of ex-perience that constitutes the verification of 

 an hypothesis, and which alone entitles it to the name of a theory, and to 

 a place in the transactions of a scientific institution. It must be recollected 

 that it is much easier to speculate than to investigate, and that very few 

 of all the hypotheses imagined are capable of standing the test of scientific 

 verification. 



For the practical working of the plan for obtaining the character of a 

 memoir, and the precaution taken betbre it is accepted for publication, I 

 would refer* to the correspondence relative to the memoir now in process 

 of publication by the institution. The memoir was referred to the Ameri- 

 can Ethnological Society, with a request that a committee of its members 

 might be appointed to examine and report on its character, as to fitness for 

 publication in the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. On the 

 favorable report of this conmiittee, and on the responsibility of the society, 

 the memoir was accepted for publication. 



As it is not our intention to interfere with the proceedings of other in- 

 stitutions, but to CO operate with them, so far as our respective operations 

 are compatible, comnumicat'ons may be referred to learned societies for in- 

 spection, as in the case of the above mentioned memoir, and abstracts of 

 them given to the world'through the bulletins of these societies, \vhile the 

 details of the memoirs and their expensive illustrations are published in the 

 volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions. The officers of several learned 

 societies in this country have expressed a willingness to co-operate in this 

 way. 



Since original research is the most direct means of increasing knowledge, 

 it can scarcely be doubted that a part of the income of the bequest should 

 be appropriated to this purpose, provided suitable persons can be found, 

 and their labors be directed to proper objects. The number, however, of 

 those who are capable of discovering scientific principles is comparatively 



* See first volume of the Smithsonian Contributiona. 



