ADVERTISEMENT 



This volume forms the thirty-third of a series, composed of original memoirs 

 on .liffereut branches of knowledge, published at the expense and under the direc- 

 tion of the Smithsonian Institution. The publication of this series forms part of a 

 general plan adopted for carrying into effect the benevolent intentions of James 

 Smithson, Esq., of England. This gentle.nan left his property m 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 dijfmionoi knowl- 

 edge among men." This trust was accepted by the Government of tbe 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'" Smithsonian Institution, for the increase 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 Regents to whom the financial and other affairs 



are ^^tru^^«^^^_^ ^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^.^ ^^^^^ers ex officio of the establishment 



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

 States! together with twelve other members, three of whom are appointed f,om the 

 Senat; by^ its President, three from the House of Representatives by the Spe^ke 

 and six persons appointed by a joint resolution of both Houses. To thi. Boaid is 

 g^er the power l\ electing 'a Secretary and other officers for conducting the active 



ODerations of the Institution. , , <■ • (.:^„ 



"^ To carry i„to effect the purposes of tbe testate,-, the plan of -J!--^'- 

 «houU evidently crab.aee two objects: one, the increase of knowledge by the .,d*- 

 :o:" new fls to the existing stock; the other, the '^'^«^^^^^^ 

 thns increased amoiK- men. No restriction is made in favor of any kind o knowl 

 d" a 1 hence each braneli is entitled to and shonld receive a share of a tention^ 

 -The .act of Congress establishing the Institution dire*, as a part „ t^e an 

 of organization, the formation of a library, a mi.senin, and a «» " ? f •"j^f^*;^ 

 with Drovisions for physical research and popular lectures, while it leaves to tUe 

 Relrr ^wer li Adopting such other parts of an ot^anization .a,, they may 

 deem best suited to promote the objects of the bequest. 



After much deliberation, the Regents resolved to apportion the .iiuual income 

 specit^inVa >ng the different objects and operations of the Institution in sucdi 

 Intent may, i^ the jodgment of ^^^^X^:^"^^^^^^' 



-"ir^f^xribX^^^^^^^^^^ 



provisionally adopted at the meeting of the Begents, Decembei 8, 184, . 



