of the aie Sse Institution. 307 
injustice to the charactér of the donor, as well as to the cause of 
general knowledge. _If preference is to be given to any branches 
of research, it should be to the higher, and apparently more ab- 
stract ; to the discovery of new principles, rather than of isolated 
facts. And this is true even in a practic oint of view. Agri- 
culture would have for ever remained an empirical art, had it not 
been for the light shed upon it by the atomic theory ‘of chemis- 
try ; and incomparably more is to be expected ; as to its ee a 
vancement from the perfection of the microscope, than fro 
provements in the ordinary instruments of hus! andr oT or | 
The plan of increasing and diffusing knowledge, present 
the first section of the programme, will be found in’ is SecBra. 
ance with the several propositions deduced from the will of 
Smithson, and given in the introduction. It embraces, as a lead- 
ing feature, the design of interesting the greatest number of in- 
dividuals in the operations of the institution, and of spreading 
its influence as widely as possible. It forms an active organiza- 
tion, exciting all to make original researches who are gifted with 
the necessary power, and diffusing a kind of knowledge, now 
only accessible to the few, among all those who are willing to 
receive it. In this country, though many excel in the application _ 
of science to the practical arts of life, few devote themselves to 
the continued labor and patient thought necessary to the discov- 
ery and development of new truths. The principal cause oe 
want of attention to original research, is the want, not of a 
means, but*of’ proper encouragement. The publication of orig: ‘ 
inal memoirs and. periodical reports, as contemplated by the pro- 
gramme, will act as a powerful stimulus on 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 bev ange 
for the use of those engaged i in the diffusion of know 
he advantages which will accrue from the plan of poblishingl 
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 continual remembrance with 
each succeeding aoa tes, as long as knowledge is valued. A 
single new truth, first given to the world nis these volumes, — 
will forever stamp their character as a work o ae 
of knowledge, and whose ruling passion, strong in death, = 
ed the noble bequest intended to facilitate the “labors of 
the same pursuit. 
_ Again, ion pabligedn: of a series of volumes of vigil, me 
moirs wil to. the institution the a meet ready means of en- 
tering into friendly relations. and corre sence with all the 
