THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 125 



should be procured , in order that the valuable books first purchased 

 may be such as are not to be found in the United States. 



8. Also, catalogues of memoirs, and of books in foreign libraries, and 

 other materials, should be collected, for rendering the Institution a cen- 

 tre of bibliographical knowledge, whence the student may be directed 

 to any work which he may require. 



9. It is believed that the collections in Natural History will increase 

 by donation as rapidly as the income of the Institution can make pro- 

 vision for their reception ; and, therefore, it will seldom be necessary 

 to purchase any articles of this kind. 



10. Attempts should be made to procure for the Gallery of Arts casts 

 of the most celebrated articles of ancient and modern sculpture. 



11. The arts may be encouraged by providing a room, free of ex- 

 pense, for the exhibition of the objects of the Art Union, and other simi- 

 lar societies. 



12. A small appropriation should annually be made for models of 

 antiquities, such as those of the remains of ancient temples, &c. 



13. For the present, or until the building is fully completed, besides 

 the Secretary, no permanent assistant will be required, except one, to 

 act as librarian. 



14. The duty of the Secretary will be the general superintendence, 

 with the advice of the Chancellor and other members of the establish- 

 ment, of the literary and scientific operations of the Institution ; to give 

 to the Regents annually an account of all the transactions, of the me- 

 moirs which have been received for publication, and of the researches 

 which have been made ; and to edit, with the assistance of the Libra- 

 rian, the publications of the Institution. 



15. The duty of the Assistant Secretary, acting as Librarian, will be, 

 for the present, to assist in taking charge of the collections ; to select and 

 purchase, under the direction of the Secretary and a committee of the 

 Board, books and catalogues, and to procure the information before 

 mentioned ; to give information on plans of libraries, and to assist the 

 Secretary in editing the publications of the Institution, and in the other 

 duties of his office. 



16. The Secretary and his assistants, during the session of Congress, 

 will be required to illustrate new discoveries in sciences, and to exhibit 

 new objects of art ; also, distinguished individuals should be invited to 

 give lectures on subjects of general interest. 



17. When the building is completed, and when, in accordance with 

 the act of Congress, the charge of the National Museum is given to the 

 Smithsonian Institution, other assistants will be required. 



Explanations and illustrations of the programme. 



Though the leading propositions of the programme have been fully dis- 

 cussed by the Board, yet it will be important to offer some remarks in 

 explanation and illustration of them in their present connexion. 



That the Institution is not a national establishment, in the sense in 

 which institutions dependent on the government for support are so, must 



