9 [ 108 ] 



clerk hire in recording the titles and furnishing the certificates of deposit, 

 has more than equalled the value to us of all the books received. Lastly, 

 it has been estimated that the publication of a new edition of the expensive 

 volumes of the results of the Exploring Expedition would cost at least fifty 

 thousand dollars. Fortunately, it has not been considered obligatory oh 

 — the Institution, except in the case of the copyright law, to accept these 

 gifts. 



Publication of memoirs. — Since the adoption of the plan of organization, 

 nearly fifty original memoirs, purporting to be additions to the sum of human 

 knowledge, have been presented to the Institution for publication. Though 

 a number of these have been returned to their authors, principally on account 

 of not falling within the restricted class of communications accepted for pub- 

 lication, yet they have generally been productions of much merit, and have 

 evinced a surprising activity of mind, and manifest a growing attention in 

 £ this country to original research. The probable success of this part of 

 the plan of organization was not overrated ; for, were the whole income of 

 the institution devoted alone to publishing the results of the labors of men 

 of literature and of science, which otherwise would never see the light, it 

 could be profitably expended. In this respect, the Smithsonian bequest 

 supplies the wants which in Europe are met by richly endowed academies 

 \and national societies. 



It will be recollected that each memoir is printed separately, and with a 

 separate title and paging, so that it can be distributed to persons most in- 

 terested in its perusal as soon as it comes from the press, without waiting 

 for the completion of the volume to which it belongs. In this way, the 

 author is enabled to present a full account of his discoveries to the world 

 with the least possible delay, while, by the rules of the Institution, he is al- 

 lowed to publish an abstract of his paper in the proceedings of the Amer- 

 ican Association for the advancement of science, or in those of any other 

 properly organized society. 



The number of copies of the Smithsonian Contributions distributed is 

 greater than that of the transactions of any scientific or literary societ}^, 

 and therefore the Institution offers the best medium to be found for diffusing 

 a knowledge of scientific discoveries. 



Every memoir published by the Institution is issued with the stain?' of ap- 

 proval of a commission of competent judges, and in order to secure a cau- 

 tious and candid opinion, the name of the author, and those of the exam- 

 iners, are not made known to each other unless a favorable report is given, 

 and, in this case, the names of the commission are printed, as vouchers for 

 the character of the memoir, on the reverse of the title-page. 



This plan secures an untrammelled expression of opinion, while it induces 

 caution on account of the responsibility which it involves. 



Besides deciding on the fitness of original memoirs for publication, the 

 Institution is continually applied to for information relative to almost every 

 department of literature and science. Respectful attention is always given 

 to these applications, and when the desired answer does not fall within the 

 ^ipe of .study of any officer of the Institution, it is sought for from those in 

 whose knowledge and judgment we have full confidence. No inconsiderable 

 portion of time is occupied in giving the information involved in the answer 

 to these inquiries : but I am happy to inform the board that in this service, 

 as well as in that of examining memoirs, we have received the co-operation 

 of a considerable number of the most distinguished individuals in our conn 



