ADVERTLSEMENT. 



This voIuuki tonus tlie tliii-t\-lirst <•[' a series, coniixtsed of original memoirs 

 on different branches of knowledfje, ])nl)lislied ;it tlie exjiense and under tlie 

 direction of tlie Smitlisoninn Institution. Tlie pulilicntion of this series forms 

 part of a oeneral plan adopted for earrvinj:^- into effect tlie benevcdent intentions 

 of James Smithson, Es(i., of Kiitiland. This o-entleiiiiiii left his property in 

 trnst to the Uniteil St.it(-s of AincricM to foniid at Wjisliinnton an institution 

 which should hear his own n.nne and have for its olijects the ''nicmtse and 

 tVifl'iisidii of knowledi;!' ainoiio- men." This trnst was accepted by tlie Govern- 

 niiient i)f the United States, and acts of (Jongress were ]»assed August 10, 1846, 

 and ]\Iarch Vl, 1894, constituting tlie President, the Vice-President, the Chief 

 Justice of the Unite<l States Supreme Court, and tlu^ heads of Executive 

 Departments an estaldishment under the name of the "SMrrnsoNiAN Institution, 



FOR THE INCREAf^E AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG MEN." The members of 



this establishment are to hold stated and special meetings for the supervision of 

 the affairs of the Institution and for the advice and instruction of a Board of 

 Res'ents to Avhom the financial anrl other affairs are intrusted. 



The P>oard of Regents consists of two memliers ex officio of the establish- 

 ment, namel\-, the Vice-President of tlie United States and the Chief Justice 

 of the Supreme Court, together with twelve other members, three of mIioiii are 

 ajipointed from the Senate from its own body, three from the House of I\e|)re- 

 seiitatives from its members, and six jiersons ajipointed by a joint resolution of 

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

 other otticers for conducting the active o]jerations of the Institution. 



To carry into etfect the ])urposes of the testator, the plan of organization 

 should evideiitU- eni1)race 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 ayd should receive 

 a share of attention. 



The act of Congress establishing the Institution directs, ■.^^. a ])art of the plan 

 of organization, the formation of a library, a museum, and a gallery of art, 

 together with provisions for pli\sical research and jiopular lectures, wdiile it 

 leaves to the Regents the powcM- of adopting such other ])arts of an organization 

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



