Mis. No. 48. 57 



(5.) That this sum be paid to Mr. Stevens on the acceptance of the 



fc ^ ^."^^""sjjript for pubhcation by the Smithsonian Institution. 



(b.j 1 hat each subscriber be entitled to receive from the Smithsonian 



Institution ten copies of the work for every S500 (or ^100) 



subscribed, and in the same proportion for a larger or smaller 



subscription. 



4. Inasmuch as the library of the British Museum contains a larger 

 number of this class of books than any other library in the world, ancl at 

 the same time affords extraordinary facilities for bibliographical research 

 It IS- proposed to commence the work there. All the titles which this 

 hbrary can furnish will be written out upon cards, made for the purpose 

 measuring about eight inches by six. When these have been carefully 

 revised and copied, they will, if it be desired, be sent in small parcels to 

 each of the subscribers for their inspection and remarks. When the work 

 is completed, so far as the library of the British Museum can furnish the 

 materials, Mr. Stevens will himself visit each of the other libraries for which 

 he shall have received subscriptions, comparing and revising the titles, and 

 adding such other books as he may find, which had not been previously 

 described. 



5. It is hoped that sufficient force can be advantageously employed upon 

 the work, to prepare it for the press in eighteen months. 



Publication of the Work. 



When the manuscript of the work shall have been completed, according 

 to the plan detailed above, it is to be delivered to the Secretary of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, at Washington, who will, in accordance with the 

 rules of the institution as published in the Pi-ogramme of Organization,' 

 of December 8, 1847, submit it to a commission of competent judges. If 

 this commission report favorably as to the faithful execution of the work, 

 it is to be published and distributed at the sole expense of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, constituting one or more volumes of the quarto series of Smith- 

 sonian Contributions to Knowledge, similar in form and style of execu- 

 tion to the first volume, about to be published. It will be uniform with 

 the quarto edition of the United States Exploring Expedition. 



Boston, July 7, 1848. 



Gentlemen: I beg leave to offer for your consideration the enclosed 

 plan of a Bibliographia Americana, and to solicit for the enterprise the pa- 

 tronage and encouragement of the Smithsonian Institution. 



I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your obedient and humble servant. 



HENRY STEYExXS. 

 Prof Joseph Henry, 



Secretary of the SmitJisonian Institution. 

 Prof. Charles C. Jewett, 



Librarian of the Smithsonian Institution. 



