158 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



lication be restricted to a well-defined range, viz : to scientific reports 

 on the present state of knowledge of a given subject, to precede the 

 periodical reports ; to translations from foreign languages of papers of 

 general interest ; and occasionally, perhaps, the exposition of a subject 

 on which, at a particular time, popular knowledge is required. We 

 should be careful not to establish a precedent which may lead us into 

 difficulty, in the way of declining the publication of works which may 

 be presented to us. Scarcely a week passes in which the Institution 

 is not requested to publish some essay or compilation, and the funds 

 which can be devoted to all our publications would not suffice for one- 

 half of those offered of this kind. The only work of this class which 

 has yet been attempted by the Institution, is one entitled " Hints on 

 Public Architecture," under the direction of the Building Committee. 

 Although the Secretary's name was mentioned in the resolution au- 

 thorizing the publication of this treatise, yet he has thus far had no 

 connexion with it. The publication was authorized before the details 

 of the plan of organization were fully settled. It was at first intended 

 merely as a report of the Building Committee, giving an account of 

 the plans submitted, and the one adopted for the Smithsonian building, 

 together with a report of the investigations of the committee with re- 

 gard to the materials of construction, &c. It was afterwards changed 

 into the form of a regular treatise, in order that it might be referred to 

 a commission of persons chosen to examine it, and that the Institution 

 might thus be relieved from the responsibility of pronouncing upon its 

 fitness for publication. I think it important that, besides the preface of 

 this work, a full account of its origin should be given in an introductory 

 advertisement. 



Library. 



During the past year the library has continued to increase by dona- 

 tions, and by the books which have been deposited by publishers, in 

 accordance with the 10th section of the act establishing the Institution. 

 The requirements of this act are, however, not strictly observed by all 

 publishers ; and I would direct the attention of the Board to a special 

 report of the Assistant Secretary with reference to this point. The 

 whole subject will probably come before Congress during its present 

 session. 



Professor Jewett, the Assistant Secretary, has been industriously en- 

 gaged during the past year in procuring statistics of the libraries of the 

 United States, and in digesting plans for the details of the library of the 

 Institution, and I beg leave to refer you to the able and interesting re- 

 port of the results of his labors herewith submitted. A considerable 

 portion of the copies of the Smithsonian Contributions will be presented 

 to public institutions which publish transactions, and which are able to 

 present us in return with additions to our library. The volume now in 

 process of distribution has been preceded by a circular requesting ex- 

 changes of the works of all institutions which issue transactions and 

 catalogues of all libraries to which the Contributions may be sent. 



