BEVIEWS — BEPORT OE THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 41 



that guide the governing body, as well as the mode of carrying the 

 objects of the institution into effect. 



" General considerations which should serve as a guide in adopting a plan of 

 organization. 



(1). Will of Smithson. The property is bequeathed to the United States of 

 America to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. 



(2). The bequest is for the benefit of mankind. The Government of the United 

 States is merely a trustee to carry out the design of the testator. 



(3). The institution is not a national establishment, as is frequently supposed, 

 but the establishment of an individual, and is to bear and perpetuate his name. 



(4). The objects of this institution are, 1st., to increase, and 2nd, to diffuse, 

 knowledge among men. 



(5). These two objects should not be confounded with one another. The first 

 is to enlarge the existing stock of knowledge by the addition of new truths ; and 

 the second, to disseminate knowledge, thus increased, among men. 



(6). The will makes no restriction in favor of any particular kind of knowledge ; 

 hence all branches are entitled to a share of attention. 



(13). It should be recollected that mankind in general are to be benefited by 

 the bequest, and that, therefore, all unnecessary expenditure on local objects would 

 be a perversion of the trust. 



(14). Besides the forgoing considerations, deduced immediately from the will of 

 Smithson, regard must be had to certain requirements of the Act of Congress 

 establishing the institution. These are, a library, a museum, and a gallery of art, 

 with a building on a liberal scale to contain them." 



In order to carry out the two leading objects of the will of Mr. 

 Smithson, the increase, namely, and the diffusion of knowledge, the 

 same report recommends the following plans : 



To increase knowledge one means proposed is to stimulate men of 

 talent to make original researches by offering suitable rewards for 

 memoirs containing new truths. The memoirs thus obtained are to 

 be published in a series of volumes, and entitled Smithsonian Con- 

 tributions to Knowledge. 



Among the various objects of research named for which pecuniary 

 appropriations may be made are included, a system of meteorologi- 

 cal observations for solving the problem of American storms ; Ex- 

 plorations in Natural History and Geology; Magnetic and Topogra- 

 phical Surveys ; the solution of various experimental problems ; and 

 Statistical, Historical and Ethnological enquiries. 



To promote the diffusion of knowledge the two leading means sug- 

 gested are the publication of periodical reports on the progress of 

 different branches of knowledge, and the publication occasionally of 

 separate treatises. 



Eor the preparation of these reports it is proposed that men 



