264 WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY. [1847 



to succeed perfectly in practice, and require no amendment, 

 would be difficult under the most favorable circumstances, 

 and becomes almost impossible where conflicting opinions 

 are to be harmonized and the definite requirements of the 

 Act of Congress establishing the Institution are to be ob- 

 served. It is not intended that the details of organization 

 as given in the programme, should be permanently adopted 

 without careful trial ; they are rather presented as sugges- 

 tions to be adopted provisionally, and to be carried into 

 operation gradually and cautiously, with such changes from 

 time to time as experience may dictate. 



INTRODUCTION. 



General considerations which should serve as a guide in adopting 

 a Plan of Organization. 



1. Will of Smithson. The property is bequeathed to the 

 United States of America, "to found at Washington, under 

 the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment 

 for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." 



2. The bequest is for the benefit of mankind. The Gov- 

 ernment of the United States is merely a trustee to carry 

 out the design of the testator. 



3. The Institution is not a national establishment, as is 

 frequently supposed, but the establishment of an individual, 

 and is to bear and perpetuate his name. 



4. The objects of the Institution are — 1st, to increase — and 

 2d, to diffuse — knowledge among men. 



5. These two objects should not be confounded with one 

 another. The first is to enlarge the existing stock of knowl- 

 edge by the addition of new truths ; and the second, to dis- 

 seminate knowledge, thus increased, among men. 



6. The will makes no restriction in favor of any partic- 

 ular kind of knowledge; hence all branches are entitled to 

 a share of attention. 



7. Knowledge can be increased by different methods of 

 facilitating and promoting the discovery of new truths ; and 



