THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 131 



in the publications of the series of reports proposed in the programme. 

 A series of periodicals of this kind, posting up all the discoveries in 

 science from time to time, and giving a well digested account of all the 

 important changes in the different branches of knowledge, is a deside- 

 ratum in the English language. The idea is borrowed from a partial 

 plan of this kind in operation in Sweden and Germany ; and for an ex- 

 ample of what the work should be, I would refer to the annual report to 

 the Swedish Academy of its perpetual secretary, Berzelius, on physical 

 science. The reports Can be so prepared as to be highly interesting to the 

 general reader, and at the same time of great importance to the exclusive 

 cultivator of a particular branch of knowledge. Full references should 

 be given, in foot-notes, to the page, number, or volume o£the work from 

 which the information was obtained, and where a more detailed account 

 can be found. It is scarcely necessary to remark, that the preparation of 

 these reports should be entrusted only to persons pofoundly acquainted 

 with the subjects to which they relate, namely : to those who are devoted 

 to particular branches, while they possess a knowledge of general princi- 

 ples. Sufficient explanations should be introduced to render the report 

 intelligible to the general reader, without destroying its scientific charac- 

 ter. Occasionally reports may be obtained from abroad — as, for ex- 

 ample, accounts of the progress of. certain branches of knowledge in 

 foreign countries ; and these may be translated, if necessary, and incor- 

 porated into other reports by some competent person in this country. 



Besides the reports on the progress of knowledge, the programme 

 proposes to publish occasionally brief treatises on particular subjects* 

 There are always subjects of general interest, of which brief 'exposi- 

 tions would be of much value. The preparation of these, however, 

 should be entrusted to none but persons of character and reputation, and 

 should be subjected to a revision by competent and responsible judges 

 before they are given to the public. They may be presented in the 

 form of reports on the existing state of knowledge relative to a given 

 subject, and may sometimes consist of memoirs and expositions of par- 

 ticular branches of literature and science, translated from foreign lan- 

 guages. The reports and treatises of the Institution, sold at a price 

 barely sufficient to pay the expense of printing, will find their way into 

 every school in our country, and will be used not as first lessons for 

 the pupil, but as sources of reliable information for the teacher. 



The second section of the programme gives, so far as they have been 

 made out, the details of the part of the plan of organization directed by 

 the act of Congress establishing the Institution. The two plans, namely, 

 that of publication and original research, and that of collections of objects 

 of nature and art, are not incompatible, and may be carried on harmo- 

 niously with each other. The only effect which they will have on one 

 another is that of limiting the operation of each, on account of the funds 

 given to the other. Still, with a judicious application and an economi- 

 cal expenditure of the income, and particularly by rigidly observing 

 the plan of finance suggested by Dr. Bache, in the construction of the 

 building, much good may be effected in each of the two branches of the 

 Institution. To carry on the operations of the first, a working library 

 will be required, consisting of the past volumes of the transactions 

 and proceedings of all the learned societies in every language. These 



