942 PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON'S BEQUEST. 



Resolved, That it is the intention of the act of Congress establishing the 

 institution, and in accordance with the design of Mr. Sraithson, as expressed 

 in his will, that one of the principal modes of executing the act and the 

 trust, is the accumulation of collections of specimens and objects of natural 

 history and of elegant art, and the gradual formation of a library of valua- 

 ble works pertaining to all departments of human knowledge, to the end 

 that a copious storehouse of materials of science, literature, and art, may 

 be provided, which shall excite and difluse the love of learning among men, 

 and shall as:iist the original investigations and efforts of those who may de- 

 vote themselves to the pursuit of any branch of knowledge. 



liesoCved, That, for the purpose of carrying into etlect the two principal 

 modes of executing the act and trust pointed out in the resolutions herewith 

 submitted, the permanent appropriations out of the accruing interest shall, 

 so soon as the buildings are completed, be annually as follows, that is to say : 



First. For the formation of a library composed of valuable works per- 

 taining to all departments of useful knowledge, and for the procuring, 

 arranging, and preserving of the various collections of the institution, as 

 well of natural history and objects of foreign and curious research and of 

 elegant art, as others, including salaries and all other general expenses con- 

 nected with the same, excepting those of the first complete arrangement of 

 all such collections and objects as now belong to the United States, in the 

 museum of the institution, when completed, together with one-half of the 

 salary of the Secretary, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars. 



Secondly. For the preparation and publication of transactions, reports, 

 and all other publications of the institution, including appropriations for 

 original researches, and premiums for original papers; for the delivery of 

 all lectures and payment of all lecturers ; and for all general expenses con- 

 nected with said lectures and publications, together with one-half of the sal- 

 ary of the Secretary, the remainder of the annually accruing interest :* it 

 being understood that all general and incidental expenses not specially con- 

 nected with either of the above two great divisions of the plan of the insti- 

 tution, shall be equally divided between them. 



Resolved, That it is the opinion and intention of the board, that in the ap- 

 propriation for the objects of the institution of any surplus of accrued 

 interest which may remain after the completion of the buildings of the in- 

 stitution, an equal division shall be made between the two great branches ; 

 that is to say, one-half shall be appropriated to the library and museum 

 fund, and the other half to the fund for original research, publications, and 

 lectures ; and that, in regard to all other funds hereafter to accrue to the 

 institution, the same division be made. 



In accordance with the above plan of organization, and 

 tending to carry out its details, the following resolutions, 

 submitted by the committee, were adopted by the board : 



Resolved, That, for the present, out of the interest accruing to the institu- 

 tion, the sum of twenty thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appro- 

 priated, for the purchase of books and the gradual fitting up of a library, 

 and all other incidental expenses relating to the library except the salaries 

 of the librarian or librarians ; the said appropriation to commence from the 

 first of January, eighteen hundred and forty-eight. 



Resolved, That the portion of the building to be for the present set apart 

 for a library be of sufficient capacity to contain not less than one hundred 

 thousand volumes ; and that it is desirable that the plan should be such as 

 to render an extension practicable, if hereafter desired. 



Resolved, That, for the present, the sum of four thousand dollars, out of 

 the interest accruing to the institution, be appropriated, for the purchase of 



*The annual amount appropriated by this clause is fifteen thousand nine hundred and 

 ton dollai-.s. 



