No. 216.] 385 



cation of the antiquarian, as well as for the instruction of the legis- 

 lator and historian. The Smithsonian Fund should spare nothing for 

 this retrospective purpose; but the desideratum would be cheerfully 

 <upplied by the general government. England JfSs set the beautiful 

 example in her Fcedera. It could be compiled, stereotyped, and pub- 

 lished, in the same manner as the Serials of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion as suggested below. 



VII. METHOD OF PUBLISHING. 



6. Let the use of the plates of the two Serials be granted, for a 

 term of years, without charge, to such responsible publishers as would 

 engage to supply all purchasers with the works, executed in a given 

 style at the lowest price, and deliver the same for sale in such of the 

 great cities of the union as shall be designated in the contract. As 

 the compiling, stereotyping, and engraving, would be done at the 

 charge of the Smithsonian fund, the purchaser would pay only for 

 the paper, press-work, binding, and the small percentage which should 

 of right constitute the profits of the publisher. If the two annual 

 volumes were in matter and style such as I conceive they should be, 

 and such as I have attempted to describe, they should be worth, at 

 the ordinary rates, four and five dollars respectively; or at least eight 

 dollars for the two. Without going into minutely accurate calcula- 

 tions, it would be safe to say, that they would not cost the purchaser 

 more than three dollars. The balance of five dollars, in the intrin- 

 sic value of the books, would be in effect a donation from James 

 Smithson. They would not indeed be worth that as merchandise, 

 since all could obtain them at the same price; but they would be 

 worth infinitely more then that, as sources of practical, useful, and 

 Indispensable knowledge, and which are not likely to be provided in 

 my other way. 



RESULTING BENEFITS OF THE PLAN. 



Permit me now to enlarge on the benefits which would result from 

 this safe, sin;ple, and effective scheme, if it were carried out in its 

 spirit, and to the letter. 



IT WILL SUPPLY A DESIDERATUM. 



1. It would call the two Serials into existence, and widely dis- 

 tribute them. A work of practical science compiled with ability, 

 executed with elegance, keeping up with the progress of discovery, 

 adapted to popular use, neither too desultory to instruct, nor too vol- 



[Am. Inst.] Z 



