LETTERS ON PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION. 083 



emergent literature of the United States, to be published 

 somehow under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 might not do good, requesting all authors to send the off- 

 spring of their brain to the Institute for inspection, dissec- 

 tion, rejection, selection, as the case might require. Most, 

 we may suppose, would be inspected and rejected at sight; 

 still a good thing worth preservation might be picked out 

 now and then which otherwise the public would know 

 nothing about. 



From A. P. Stewart. 



Cumberland University, 

 Lebanon, Tenn., January 9, 1849. 

 I am requested by the faculty of this institution, to say, 

 in reply to your communication to the president of 17 Nov. 

 last, that the Programme of the Smithsonian Institution, a 

 copy of which was enclosed with the communication re- 

 ferred to, is highly approved by them. From the examina- 

 tion they have been able to give to the subject, they are of 

 the opinion that the plan adopted, is, perhaps, the best that 

 could have been devised for promoting the objects of the 

 testator. They feel greatly interested in the success of an 

 Institution, whose objects are the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men, and will cordially co-operate in 

 furthering these ends, so far as they may be able or as may 

 be required ; but are not aware of any important sugges- 

 tion they could make, that has not already occurred to the 

 managers of the enterprise, in whose wisdom and ability 

 they have full confidence. 



From C. W. Parsons. 



Rhode Island Historical Society, 



Providence, January 17, 1849. 

 The donation from the Regents of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, with the accompanying circular, programme, &c., 

 presented to the Rhode Island Historical Society, were duly 

 received, and a committee was appointed with instructions 

 to report a suitable reply. At the regular meeting, Janu- 

 ary 16th, this committee made a report, through its chair- 

 man, Prof. Gammell of Brown University. The following 

 resolutions, recommended in this report, were, after full con- 

 sideration and discussion, unanimously adopted by the 

 Societv. 



