PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION 
' OF THE 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 
[PRESENTED IN THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, AND 
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS, DECEMBER 13, 1847.] 
ENP OY torr PON: 
General considerations which should serve as a guide in adopting a Plan 
of Organization. 
1. Witu oF Suituson.. 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 diffu- 
sion of knowledge among men.’’ 
2.The bequest is for the benefit of mankind. The government 
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, Ist, 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 knowledge by the addition 
of new truths; and the second, to disseminate knowledge, thus in- 
creased, among men. | 
6. The will makes no restriction in favor of any particular 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 can be most exten- 
sively diffused among men by means of the press, 
8. To effect the greatest amount of good, the organization should 
be such as to enable the Institution to produce results, in the way of 
increasing and diffusing knowledge, which cannot be produced either 
at all or so efficiently by the existing institutions in our country. 
9. The organization should also be such as can be adopted provi- 
sionally ; can be easily reduced to practice, receive modifications, or 
be abandoned, in whole or in part, without a sacrifice’ of the funds. 
