274 WRITINGS OP JOSEPH HENRY. [1847 



science to the practical arts of life, few devote themselves 

 to the continued labor and patient thought necessary to the 

 discovery and "development of new truths. The principal 

 cause of this want of attention to original research, is the 

 want, not of proper means, but of proper encouragement. 

 The publication of original memoirs and periodical reports, 

 as contemplated by the programme, will act as a powerful 

 stimulus to the latent talent of our country, by placing in 

 bold relief the real laborers in the field of original research, 

 while it will afford the best materials for the use of those 

 engaged in the diffusion of knowledge. 



The advantages which will accrue from the plan of pub- 

 lishing the volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions to 

 Knowledge, are various. In the first place, it will serve to 

 render the name of the founder favorably known wherever 

 literature and science are cultivated, and to keep it in con- 

 tinual remembrance with each succeeding volume, as long 

 as knowledge is valued. A single new truth, first given 

 to the world through these volumes, will forever stamp their 

 character as a work of reference. The contributions will 

 thus form the most befitting monument to perpetuate the 

 name of one whose life was devoted to the increase of 

 knowledge, and whose ruling passion, strong in death, 

 prompted the noble bequest intended to facilitate the labors 

 of others in the same pursuit. 



Again, the publication of a series of volumes of original 

 memoirs will afford to the Institution the most ready means 

 of entering into friendly relations and correspondence with 

 all the learned societies in the world, and of enriching its 

 library with their current transactions and proceedings. But 

 perhaps the most important effect of the plan will be that 

 of giving to the world many valuable memoirs, which on 

 account of the expense of the illustrations could not be 

 otherwise published. Every one who adds new and im- 

 portant truths to the existing stock of knowledge must be 

 of necessity to a certain degree in advance of his age. 

 Hence the number of readers and purchasers of a work is 

 generally in the inverse ratio of its intrinsic value; and 



