132 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



are the original sources from which the most important principles of the 

 positive knowledge of our day have been drawn. We shall also require 

 a collection of the most important current literature and science for the 

 rise of the collaborators of the reports ; most of these, however, will be 

 procured in exchange for the publications of the Institution, and, there- 

 fore, will draw but little from the library fund. For other suggestions 

 relative to the details of the library, I would refer you to the annexed 

 communication from Professor Jewett, Assistant Secretary, acting as 

 librarian. 



The collections of the Institution, as far as possible, should consist of 

 such articles as are not elsewhere to be found in this country, so that 

 the visitors at .Washington may see new objects, and the spirit of the 

 plan be kept u-p, of interesting the greatest possible number of individ- 

 uals. A perfect collection of all objects of nature and of art, if such 

 could be obtained and deposited in one place, would form a museum of 

 the highest interest ; but the portion of the income of the bequest which 

 can be devoted to the increase and maintenance of the museum will be 

 too small to warrant any attempt towards an indiscriminate collection. 

 It is hoped that, in due time, other means may be found of establishing 

 and supporting a general collection of objects of nature and art at the 

 seat of the general government, with funds not derived from the Smith- 

 sonian bequest. For the present, it should be the object of the Institu- 

 tion to confine the application of the funds, first, to such collections as 

 will tend to facilitate the study of the memoirs which may be published 

 in the Contributions, and to establish their correctness ; secondly, to the 

 purchase of such objects as are not generally known in this country, 

 in the way of art, and the illustration of antiquities, such as models of 

 buildings, &c. ; and, thirdly, to the formation of a collection of instru- 

 ments of" physical research, which will be required both in the illustra- 

 tion of new physical truths and in the scientific investigations under- 

 taken by the Insjitution. 



Much popular interest may be awakened in favor of the Institution 

 at Washington, by throwing the rooms of the building open on stated 

 evenings during the session of Congress, for literary and scientific as- 

 semblies, after the manner of the weeldy meetings of the Royal Insti- 

 tution in London. At these meetings, without the formality of a regular 

 lecture, new truths in science may be illustrated, and new objects of 

 art exhibited. Besides these, courses of lectures may be given on par- 

 ticular subjects by the officers of the Institution, or by distinguished 

 individuals invited for the purpose. 



Commencement of the operations of the Institution. 



I was authorized, in connexion with the Committee on Organization, 

 to commence the publication of the Smithsonian Contributions to 

 Knowledge, and to receive any memoir which might be presented on 

 any subject, provided it was found, on examination, to furnish an inter- 

 esting addition to the sum of human knowledge, resting on original re- 

 search. The first memoir presented, and found to be of the character 

 prescribed by the resolution of the Board, was one on the remains of 

 the ancient inhabitants of the North American continent. It contains 



