SCIENTIFIC PAPERS AND ABSTRACTS. 



PKOGEAMME OF OKGANIZATION OF THE SMITHSONIAN 

 INSTITUTION. 



(From the First Annual Eeport of the Secretary to the Board of Eegents.)* 

 December 8, 1847. 



Gentlemen: - - - In accordance with my instructions 

 I consulted with men of eminence in the different branches of 

 literature and science, relative to the details of the plan of 

 organization, and arranged the various suggestions offered 

 in the form of the accompanying programme. This, after 

 having been submitted to a number of persons in whose 

 knowledge and judgment I have confidence, is now pre- 

 sented to the Board, with the concurrence of the Committee 

 on Organization, for consideration and provisional adoption. 

 I regret that I could not give the names of those whose sug- 

 gestions have been adopted in the programme; the impos- 

 sibility of rendering justice to all has prevented my attempt- 

 ing this. Many of the suggestions have been offered by 

 different persons independently of each other. - - - 



The introduction to the programme contains a series of 

 propositions suggested by a critical examination of the will 

 of Smithson, to serve as a guide in judging of the fitness of 

 any proposed plan for carrying out the design of the tes- 

 tator. - - - 



That all the propositions will meet with general approval 

 cannot be expected; and that this organization is the best 

 that could be devised is neither asserted nor believed. To 

 produce a priori a plan of organization which shall be found 



*[The Plan adopted by the Board of Kegents, December 13, 1847.] 



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