314 Explanations and Illustrations of the plan 
resting on original research. he first memoir presented, and 
found to be of the character prescribed by the resolution of the 
Board, was one on the remains of the ancient inhabitants of the 
North American continent. It contains the result of several 
years’ labor in the survey and exploration of the mounds and 
earthworks of the Mississippi valley, and will se a highly 
interesting addition to the antiquities of our country, which 
could not have been given to the world, but for the timely aid 
extended to it sth this institution. ‘The memoir was referred to 
ns. #9 Fnow tote: On the favorable report of 
mittee pine responsibility on — ey the me- 
moir | a. i Sn cepa for publication. * 
‘The oirs of Messrs. Squier and batt will occupy the 
greater bértiot if not the whole, of the first volume of the Con- 
tributions. The illustrations will consist of fifty-five quarto 
eating of the various articles found in the mo 
who consider no branch of knowledge of any alti’ but sake as 
relates to the immediate gratification of our physical abi have 
objected to the acceptance of this memoir as one of the first 
publications of the Se et but it must be oo fled that 
the will of Smithson makes no restriction in favor of any pat- 
‘ticular kind of Enowiedee and that each branch is, therefore, 
entitled to a share of his bequest. The Ethnological memoir of 
lessrs. Squier and Davis was the first, of the proper character, 
proscuted for publication, and hence it was entitled to the first 
: n the series of Smithsonian Contributions. Besides this, 
of the life of Siiithaon, by the Chancellor. The fa ea - 
this have been collected from the several volumes of the Tran 
actions of the Royal Society, and the scientific journals of she 
beginning of the present, and the latter part of the last century. 
The first volume will be published as soon as the wood-cut s and 
plates, now in the course of preparation, are finished. 
Besides the memoirs before | mentioned, a number of others 
have been presented, some of which though’ apparently of on 
est, and the product of thought and labor, were not of the c 
‘acter required by the resolution of the Board, and these have 
