142 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



" To increase knowledge, it is proposed 



"1st. To stimulate men of talent to make original researches, by 

 offering suitable rewards for memoirs containing new truths ; and, 



" 2d. To appropriate annually a portion of the income for particular 

 researches under the direction of suitable persons." 



These methods of increasing knowledge are further unfolded in the 

 following '.' detail of the plan" for that purpose : 



" I. By stimulating researches. 



" 1st. Rewards, consisting of money, medals, &c, offered for original 

 memoirs on all branches of knowledge. 



" 2d. The memoirs thus obtained to be published in a series of 

 volumes in a quarto form, and entitled * Smithsonian Contributions to 

 Knowledge.' 



"3d. No memoir on subjects of physical science to be accepted for 

 publication which does not furnish a positive addition to human know- 

 ledge ; and all unverified speculation to be rejected. 



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

 examination to a committee of persons of reputation for learning in the 

 branch to which the memoir pertains, and to be accepted for publica- 

 tion only in case the report is favorable. 



" 5th. The commission to be chosen by the officers of the Institu- 

 tion, and the name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed until 

 a favorable decision shall have been made. 



" 6th. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transac- 

 tions of all literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to 

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

 remaining copies may be offered for sale, and the other carefully pre- 

 served to form complete sets of the work to supply the demand from 

 new institutions. 



" 7th. An abstract or popular account of the contents of these me- 

 moirs should be given to the public through the annual report of the 

 Regents to Congress. 



"II. By appropriating a 'portion of the income annually to special objects 

 of research, under the direction of suitable persons. 



" 1st. The objects and the amounts appropriated to be recommended 

 by counsellors of the Institution. 



"2d. Appropriation in different years to different objects, so that in 

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



" 3d. The results obtained from these appropriations to be published 

 with the memoirs before mentioned, in the volumes of the Smithsonian 

 Contributions to knowledge. 



" 4th. Examples of objects for which appropriations may be made : 



" ( I ..) System of extended meteorological observations, for solving the 

 problem of American storms. 



" (2.) Geological, magnetical, and topographical surveys, to collect 

 materials for a physical atlas of the United States. 



" (3.) Solution of experimental problems, such as weighing the 

 earth, new determination of the velocity of electricity and light, chemi- 

 cal analyses of soils and plants, collection and publication of articles 

 of science accumulated in the offices of the government. 



