ADVEirriSEMKNT. 



This volume forms the thirty-fourth of a scuies, composed of origimil 

 memoirs ou different branches of knowledge, published at the expense and 

 under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution. The publication of this 

 series forms part of a general plan adopted for carrying into effect the benevo- 

 lent intentions of James Smithson, Esq., of England. This gentleman left his 

 property in trust to the United States of America to found at Washington 

 an institution which should bear his own name and have for its objects the 

 ^'increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." This trust was accepted 

 by the Government of the United States, and acts of Congress were passed 

 August 10, 1846, and March 12, 1894, constituting the President, the Vice- 

 President, the Chief Justice of the United States, and the heads of Executive 

 Departments an establishment under the name of the "Smithsoniax Insti- 

 tution, FOE THE INCREASE AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG MEN." The 



members of this establisliment are to hold stated and special meetings for 

 the supervision of the affairs of the Institution and for the advice and instruc- 

 tion of a Board of Regents to whom the financial and other affairs are 

 intrusted. 



The Board of Regents consists of two members ex-offrcio of the establish- 

 ment, namely, the Vice-President of the United States and the Chief Justice 

 of the United States, together with twelve other members, three of whom are 

 appointed from the Senate by its President, three from the House of Repre- 

 sentatives by the Speaker, and six persons appointed by a joint resolution of 

 both Houses. To this lioard is given the power of electing a Secretary and 

 other officers for conducting the active operations of the Institution. 



To carry into effect the purposes of the testator, the plan of organization 

 should evidently embrace two objects: one, the increase of knowledge by 

 the addition of new truths to the existing stock; the other, the diffusion of 

 knowledge, thus increased, among men. No restriction is made in favor of any 

 kind of knowledge, and hence each branch is entitled to and should receive a 

 share of attention. 



The act of Congress establishing the Institution directs, as a part of the 



plan of organization, the formation of a library, a museum, and a galleiy of 



art, together with provisions for physical research and popular lectures, while 



it leaves to the Regents the power of adopting such other parts of an oi-ganiza- 



tion as they may deem best suited to promote the objects of the bequest. 



m 



