32 Mis. No. 48. 



complied with in the piibhcations of the series of reports proposed in the 

 programme. A series of periodicals of this kind, posting up all the discov- 

 eries^n science from time to time, and giving a well digested account of all 

 the important changes in the different branches of knowledge, is a desider- 

 atum in the English language. The idea is borrowed from a partial plan of 

 this kind in operation in Sweden and Germany; and for an example ol 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 re- 

 ports can be so prepared so as to be highly interesting to the general reader, 

 and at the same time of great importance to the exclusive cultivator of a par- 

 ticular branch of knowledge. Full references should be given, in foot- 

 notes, to the page, number or volume of the work from whicii the informa- 

 tion was obtained, and where a more detailed account can be found. It is 

 scarcely necessary to remark, that the preparation of these reports should 

 be intrusted only to persons prpfoundly acquainted with ihe subjects to 

 which they relate — namely, to those who are devoted to particular branches, 

 while they possess a knowledge of general principles. Sufficient explana- 

 tions should be introduced to render the report intelligible to the general 

 reader, without destroying its scientific character. Occasionally reports 

 may be obtained from abroad — as, for example, accounts of the progress of 

 certain branches of knowledge in foreign countries — and these nmy be 

 translated, if necessary, and incorporated into other reports, by some com- 

 petent person in this country. 



Besides the reports on the progress of knowledge, the programme pro- 

 poses to publish occasionally brief treatises on particular subjects. There 

 are always subjects of general interest, of which brief expositions would 

 be of much value. The preparation of these, however; should be intrusted 

 to none but persons of character and reputation, and should be subjected 

 to a revision by competent and responsible judges before they are given to 

 the public. They may be presented in the form of reports on the existing 

 state of knowledge relative to a given subject, and may sometimes consist 

 of memoirs and expositions of particular branches of literature and science, 

 translated from foreign languages. The reports and treatises of the insti- 

 tution, sold at a price barely suflicient to pay the expense of printing, will 

 find their way into every school in our country, and will be used not as 

 first lessons for the pupil, but as sources of reliable information for the 

 teacher. 



The second section of the programme gives, so far as they have been 

 made out, the details of the part of the plan of organization directed by the 

 act of ('ongress establishing the Institution. The two plans, namely, that 

 of publication and original research, and that of collections of objects of 

 nature and art, are not incomjxitible, and may be carried on harmoniously 

 with each other. The only efiect which they wdll have on one another 

 is that of limiting the operation of each, on account of the funds given to 

 the other. Still, with a judicious application, and an economical expendi- 

 ture of the income, and particularly by rigidly observing the plan of finance, 

 suggested by Dr. Bache, in the construction of the building, much good 

 may be effected in each of the two branches of the institution. To carry 

 on the operations of the first, a working library will be required, consisting 

 of the past volumes of the transactions and proceedings of all the learned 

 societies in every language. These are the original sources from which 

 the most important principles of the positive knowledge of our day have 



