986 LETTERS ON PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION. 



The system suggested by Professor Henry, and his assist- 

 ant, is so concisely yet clearly stated by themselves, that it 

 is difficult to present its general principles, and the modes 

 of operation which it contemplates, in an abridged form. 

 If, however, the leading principles are just, it may be safe 

 to conclude that a judicious application of them in practice 

 will result from the present wisdom, or ultimate experience, 

 of those who are charged with their administration. 



The proposed organization is deduced from certain gene- 

 ral considerations which are expressed in the form of an 

 introduction to the details of the plan. The most prominent 

 of these are — " 1st. That the property is bequeathed to the 

 United States, to found at Washington, under the name of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the in- 

 crease and diffusion of knowledge among men. 2d. The 

 bequest is for the benefit of mankind ; the Government of 

 the United States being merely a trustee to carry out the 

 design of the testator. 3d. The Institution is not a national 

 establishmont, as is frequently supposed, but the establish- 

 ment of an individual, and is to bear and perpetuate his 

 name. 4th. The objects of the Institution are — 1st, to in- 

 crease, 2d, to diffuse knowledge among men. 5th. These 

 two objects must not be confounded with one another. 6th. 

 The will makes no restriction in favor of any particular 

 kind of knowledge ; hence all branches are entitled to a 

 share of attention." 



In accordance with the foregoing, and other deductions 

 from the will of Smithson, it is proposed to increase knowl- 

 edge in two ways, viz.: " To stimulate men of talent to 

 make original researches by ofiering suitable rewards for 

 memoirs containing new truths ; and, secondly, to appro- 

 priate annually a portion of the income for particular re- 

 searches, under the direction of suitable persons," the 

 results of these researches to be published in a series of 

 volumes, entitled Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. 

 As a security against the adoption of unverified speculations 

 or imperfectly conducted researches, it is suggested, that 

 every memoir should be submitted for examination to a 

 commission of persons of reputation for learning in the 

 branch to which the memoir pertains, and to be accepted 

 only in case the report is favorable. Moreover, a positive 

 addition to human knowledge, resting on original research, 

 is to be demanded ; and the appropriations in different 

 years are to be to different subjects, so that each branch of 

 knowledge may receive a share. 



It will be seen that, in this division, the increase and the 



