934 PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON S BEQUEST. 



After a careful review of the means of the institution, and 

 the annual demands upon it necessitated by the objects 

 specially required in the charter, your committee are not 

 prepared, with the present endowment only at command, 

 to recommend a greater extension than these named of per- 

 manent offices requiring scientific or literary qualifications. 

 And they think that the appointments of curator and 

 chemist may be postponed until the time, or nearly the 

 time, when the building is likely to be completed. 



In these various recommendations, your committee have 

 been guided chiefly by the words and specific recommend- 

 ations of the charter. They are of opinion, however, that 

 the task assigned them would be ill performed if they 

 stopped short here, and neglected to avail themselves of the 

 authority, liberally, and wisely your committee think, con- 

 ferred upon the Board, after providing for the above special 

 objects to such extent as they may consider necessary and 

 proper, to dispose of the remaining funds, annually accru- 

 ing, in such manner as " they shall deem best suited for the 

 promotion of the purpose of the testator." 



" Increase and difi'usion of knowledge," your committee 

 beg leave to repeat, was that purpose. 



IIow can knowledge be increased ? 



By original research throughout its various fields; yield- 

 ing, when successfully prosecuted, positive additions to the 

 sum of what had theretofore been known. 



For this, there is no provision in the items specifically 

 enumerated in the bill and above provided for, except, it 

 may be, in the chemical department, where the chemist, or 

 others engaging in experiment and investigation, may fur- 

 nish actual contributions to the science of chemistry. 



But how may original researches generally be encouraged 

 and called forth ? 



First, by premiums, your committee think, annually offered 

 for original papers on such subjects as may be selected ; it 

 being a strict condition, that each paper accepted and ob- 

 taining a premium, shall contain a specific addition to the 

 sum of human knowledge, resting upon original investiga- 

 tions, and not mere unverified hypotheses. The accepted 

 paper may be published in the successive numbers of trans- 

 actions, which may be entitled " Smithsonian Contributions 

 to Knowledge." and which your committee recommend to 

 be issued periodicallj^ or occasionally, as materials present 

 themselves. The names of the competitors for premiums 

 should, in all cases, remain unknown until the award is 

 made. 



