140 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 



APPOINTED TO 



CONSIDER THE PLAN PROPOSED FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE 

 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



SUBMITTED TO THE ACADEMY, DECEMBER 7, 1847. 



The Committee of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, to 

 whom was referred a letter of Professor Henry, of the 30th September, 

 together with the programme of the organization of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution accompanying the said letter, have had the same under con- 

 sideration, and beg leave to submit the following report : 



Professor Henry is understood to be desirous of ascertaining the 

 opinions of the scientific bodies of the country on the subject of the 

 proposed organization of the Smithsonian Institution ; and the free ex- 

 pression of their views is invited by him. 



The interesting nature and high importance of this foundation, and 

 the novel and peculiar circumstances attending its establishment, make 

 it highly expedient, in the opinion of the committee, that every step 

 taken in its organization should be deliberately considered. They think 

 it no more than just to express their satisfaction, that the control of the 

 infant establishment has been placed in the hands of a Board of Regents 

 of the highest intelligence, respectability, and weight of character; and 

 in the wise selection made of the officers on whom the active execu- 

 tive duties of the Institution will devolve, the committee perceive a 

 satisfactory pledge as far as they are concerned. 



Professor Henry's programme commences with " General considera- 

 tions which should serve as a guide in adopting the plan of organiza- 

 tion." He points out the nature of the bequest as made to the United 

 States for the purpose of founding at Washington, under the name of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion 

 of knowledge among men. The bequest is accordingly for the benefit 

 of mankind. The government of the United States is but a trustee to 

 carry out this noble design. Even the people of the United States are 

 interested only so far as they constitute one of the great families of the 

 human race. 



The objects of the Institution are twofold : first, the increase ; and 

 second, the diffusion of knowledge ; objects which, although frequently 

 in a vague way confounded with each other, (inasmuch as it often hap- 

 pens that knowledge is diffused by the same acts which increase it,) 

 are nevertheless logically distinct, and require to be separately regarded. 

 No particular kind of knowledge is specified by the founder as entitled 



