PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION. 9 



publication which does not furnish a positive addition to human 

 knowledge, resting on original research ; and all unverified specula- 

 tions to be rejected. 



4. Each memoir presented to the Institution to be submitted for 

 examination 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. 



5. The commission to be chosen by the officers of the Institution, 

 and the name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed, unless 

 a faTorable decision be made. 



6. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the Trans- 

 actions of literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to 

 all tlB colleges and principal libraries, in this country. One part of 

 the remaining copies may be offered for sale ; and the other carefully 

 preseived, to form comptete sets of the work, to supply the demand 

 from mw institutions. 



7. Ai abstract, or popular account, of the contents of these memoirs 

 to be gveu to the public through the annual report of the Regents to 

 Congres 



II. By appropriating a part of the income, annually, to special objects 

 of research^ under the direction of suitable persons. 



1. The «bjects and the amount appropriated, to be recommended 

 by counselors of the Institution. 



2. Appropriations in difi^erent years to different objects ; so that 

 in course of time each branch of knowledge may receive a share. 



3. The results obtained from these appropriations to be published, 

 with the menoirs before mentioned, in the volumes of the Smith- 

 sonian Contrijutions to Knowledge. 



4. Example of objects for which appropriations may be made. 

 (1.) System of extended meteorological observations for solving 



the problem oiAmerican storms. 



(2.) Exploraions in descriptive natural history, and geological, 

 magnetical, an a topographical surveys, to collect materials for the 

 formation of a Physical Atlas of the United States. 



(3.) Solution a experimental problems, such as a new determina- 

 tion of the weighiof the earth, of the velocity of electricity, and of 

 light J chemical analyses of soils and plants ; collection and publica- 

 tion of scientific fi';ts, accumulated in the offices of government. 



(4.) Institution (? statistical inquiries with reference to physical, 

 moral, and politicaisubjects. 



(5.) Historical re^arches, and accurate surveys of places celebrated 

 in American history. 



(6.) Ethnological esearches, particularly with reference to the 

 different races of menin North America; also, explorations and ac- 

 curate surveys of the bounds and other remains of the ancient people 

 of our country. 



