122 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



To Diffuse Knowledge. Tt is proposed — 



1. To publish a series of periodical reports on the progress of the 

 different branches of knowledge ; and, 



2. To publish occasionally separate treatises on the subjects of general 

 interest. 



DETAILS OF THE PLAN TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE. 



I. By stimulating researches. 



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

 memoirs on all branches of knowledge. 



2. The memoirs thus obtained to be published in a series of vol- 

 umes in a quarto form, and entitled " Smithsonian Contributions to 

 Knowledge." 



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

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

 edge resting on original research ; and all unverified speculations to 

 be rejscted. 



4. Each memoir presented to the Institution to be submitted for ex- 

 amination to a commission 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 of this commission is favorable. 



5. The commission to be chosen by the officers of the Institution, and 

 the name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed, unless a favor- 

 able decision be made. 



6. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transactions 

 of literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to all the col- 

 leges and principal libraries in this country. One part of the remain- 

 ing copies may be offered for sale ; and the other carefully preserved, 

 to form complete sets of the volumes, to supply the demand from new 

 institutions. 



7. An abstract, or popular account, of the contents of these memoirs 

 to 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. 



1. The objects, and the amount appropriated, to be recommended 

 by counsellors of the Institution. 



2. Appropriations in different years to different objects ; so that, in 

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



■j. The results obtained from these appropriations to be published, 

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

 Contributions to Knowledge. 



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



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

 problem for American storms. 



(2.) Explorations in descriptive natural history, and geological, mag- 

 netical, and topographical surveys, to collect materials for the formation 

 of a Physical Atlas of the United States. 



