IV ADVERTISEMENT 



After much deliberation, the Regents resolved to apportion the annual 

 income specifically among the different objects and operations of the Institution 

 in such manner as may, in the judgment of the Regents, be necessary and proper 

 for each, according to its intrinsic importance, and a compliance in good faith 

 with the law. 



The following are the details of the two parts of the general ])lan of organi- 

 zation provisionally adopted at the meeting of the Regents December 8, 1847 : 



DETAILS OF THE FIRST PART OF THE PLAN. 



I. To INCREASE Knowledge. — It is proposed to stimulate research by offering 



rewards for original memoirs on all subjects of investigation. 



1. The memoirs thus obtained to be published in a series of volumes, in a 

 quarto form, and entitled " Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge." 



2. No memoir on subjects of physical science to be accepted for publication 

 which does not furnish a positive addition to human knowledge, resting- on 

 original research ; and all unverified speculations to be rejected. 



3. Each memoir presented to the Institution to be submitted for examina- 

 tion to a commission of persons of reputation for learning in the branch to 

 which the memioir pertains, and to be accepted for pultlication only in case the 

 report of this commission is favorable. 



4. The commission to be chosen by the officers of the Institution, and the 

 name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed, unless a favorable decision 

 be made. 



5. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transactions of 

 literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to all the colleges and 

 Ijrincipal libraries in this country. One part of the remaining copies may be 

 offered for sale, and the other carefully preserved to form complete sets of the 

 work to supply the demand from new institutions. 



6. An abstract, or popular account, of the contents of these memoirs to be 

 given to the public through the annual report of the Regents to Congress. 



II. To INCREASE Knowledge. — It is also proposed to appropriate a portion of 



the income annually to special objects of research, under the direction of 

 suitable persons. 



1. The objects and the amount appropriated to be recommended by coun- 

 sellors of the Institution. 



2. Appropriations in different years to different objects, so that in course 

 of time each branch of knowledge may receive a share. 



