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The act of congress establishing tin- Institution directs, as a part of the 

 plan of organization, the formation of a library, a museum, and a gallery of 

 art, together with provisions for physical research and popular lectures, while it 

 leaves to the Regents the power of adopting such other parts of an organization 

 as they may deem best suited to promote the objects of the bequest. 



After much deliberation the Regents resolved to divide the animal income 

 into two equal parts one part to be devoted to the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge by means of original research and publications; the other half of 

 the income to be applied in accordance with the requirements of the act of 

 Congress to the gradual formation of a library, a museum, and a gallery of 

 art. 



The following are the details of the parts of the general plan of organization 

 provisionally adopted at the meeting of the Regents. December S, 1<S47. 



DETAILS OF THE FIRST PART OF THE PLAN. 



I. To INCREASE KNOWLEDGE. It is jtrojHwd to xtmttlah' ri'*ra>'<-l/ In/ nj/'t r/itf/ 

 for original memoir* oit all suljirta 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 publica- 

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

 original research; and all unverified speculations to lie 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 memoir pertains, and to be accepted for publication, only in case the report 

 of this commission is favorable. 



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

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

 be made. 



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

 literary and scientific societies, and copies to be giventoall the colleges and prin- 

 cipal 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. 



