PROGRAMME OF ORGANIZATION OF | tinual expense of keeping it in repair, THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. (Presented to the Board of Regents December 8, 1847.) BY PROF. JOSEPH HENRY. Will of Smithson. The property is bequeathed to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. and of the support of the establishment The plan and dimensions of the building should be determined by the plan of organization, and not the converse. It should be recollected that mankind in general are to be benefited by the bequest, and that, therefore, all unnecessary expenditure on local objects would be a perversion of the trust. The bequest is for the benefit of manBesides the foregoing considerations, kind. The Government of the United deducted immediately from the will of States is merely a trustee to carry out Smithson, regard must be had to certain the design of the testator. requirements of the act of Congress esThe Institution is not a national estab-tablishing the Institution. These are a lishment, as is frequently supposed, but library, a museum, and a gallery of art, the establishment of an individual, and with a building on a liberal scale to conis to bear and perpetuate his name. tain them, The objects of the Institution are, 1st, to increase, and, 2d, to diffuse knowledge PLAN OF ORGANIZATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH among men. These two objects should not be confounded with one another. The first is to increase the existing stock of knowledge by the addition of new truths, and the second to disseminate knowledge, thus increased, among men. The will makes no restrictions in favor of any particular kind of knowledge, hence all branches are entitled to a share of attention. Knowledge can be increased by different methods of facilitating and promoting the discovery of new truths, and can be most efficiently diffused among men by means of the press. To effect the greatest amount of good, the organization should be such as to enable the Institution to produce results in the way of increasing and diffusing knowledge, which cannot be produced by the existing institutions in our country. The organization should also be such as can be adopted provisionally, can be easily reduced to practice, receive modifications, or be abandoned, in whole or in part, without a sacrifice of the funds. In order to make up for the loss of time occasioned by the delay of eight years in establishing the Institution, a considerable portion of the interest which has accrued should be added to the principal. THE SMITHSON WILL. To increase knowledge, it is proposed: To stimulate men of talent to make original researches, by offering suitable rewards for memoirs containing new truths; and To appropriate annually a portion of the income for particular researches, under the direction of suitable persons. To diffuse knowledge, it is proposed: To publish a series of periodical reports on the progress of the different branches of knowledge; and To publish occasionally separate treatises on subjects of general interest. DETAILS OF THE PLAN TO INCREASE KNOWL EDGE. By stimulating researches. Rewards, consisting of money, medals, etc., offered for original memoirs on all branches of knowledge. The memoirs thus obtained to be published in a series of volumes, in a quarto form, and entitled Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. No memoir on subjects of physical science to be accepted for publication which does not furnish a positive addition to human knowledge resting on original research, and all unverified speculations to be rejected. In proportion to the wide fields of knowledge to be cultivated the funds are Each memoir presented to the Institusmall. Economy should therefore be con- tion to be submitted for examination to a sulted in the construction of the building; commission of persons of reputation for and not only should the first cost of the learning in the branch to which the meedifice be considered, but also the con-moir pertains, and to be accepted for publication only in case the report of, with reference to the different races of this commission is favorable. The commission to be chosen by the officers of the Institution, and the name of the author, as far as practicable, concealed, unless a favorable decision be made. The volumes of the memoirs to be exchanged for the transactions of literary and scientific societies, and copies to be given to all the colleges and principal libraries in this country. One part of the remaining 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. 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. By appropriating a portion of the income annually to special objects of research, under the directions of suitable persons. The objects and the amounts to be appropriated to be recommended by Counsellors of the Institution. Appropriations in different years to different objects, so that in course of time each branch of knowledge may receive a share. The results obtained from these appropriations to be published, with the memoirs before mentioned, in the volumes of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. EXAMPLES OF OBJECTS FOR WHICH APPRO PRIATIONS MAY BE MADE. System of extended meteorological observations, for solving the problem of American storms. Explorations in descriptive natural history, and geological, magnetical, and topographical surveys; to collect materials for the formation of a physical atlas of the United States. Solution of experimental problems, such as a new determination of the weight of the earth; of the velocity of electricity and of light; chemical analyses of soils and plants; collection and publication of articles of science accumulated in the offices of Government. Institution of statistical inquiries, with reference to physical, moral, and political subjects. Historical researches, and accurate surveys of places celebrated in American history. Ethnological researches, particularly men in North America; also explorations and accurate surveys of the mounds and other remains of the ancient people of our country. DETAILS OF THE PLAN FOR DIFFUSING By the publication of a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge not strictly professional. These reports will diffuse a kind of knowledge generally interesting, but which, at present, is inaccessible to the public. Some of the reports may be published annually, others at longer intervals, as the income of the Institution or the changes in the branches of knowledge may indicate. The reports are to be prepared by collaborators eminent in the different branches of knowledge. Each collaborator to be furnished with the journals and publications, domestic and foreign, necessary to the compilation of his report; to be paid a certain sum for his labors, and to be named on the title-page of the report. The reports to be published in separate parts, so that persons interested in a particular branch can procure the parts relating to it without purchasing the whole. These reports may be presented to Congress for partial distribution, the remaining copies to be given to literary and scientific institutions, and sold to individuals for a moderate price. The following are some of the subjects which may be embraced in the report: Physics, including astronomy, natural philosophy, chemistry, and meteorology. Natural history, including botany, zoo logy, geology, etc. Agriculture. Application of science to arts. Ethnology, including particular history, comparative philology, antiquities, etc. Statistics and political economy. Mental and moral philosophy. A survey of the political events of the world; penal reform, Modern literature. etc. The fine arts, and their application to the useful arts. Bibliography. Obituary notices of distinguished individuals. By the publication of separate treatises on subjects of general interest. These treatises may occasionally consist of valuable memoirs, translated from foreign languages, or of articles prepared under the directions of the Institution, or procured by offering premiums for the best exposition of a given subject. The treatises should in all cases be submitted to a commission of competent judges previous to their publication. As examples of these treatises, expositions may be obtained of the present state of the several branches of knowledge mentioned in the table of reports. Also of the following subjects, suggested by the committee on the organization, viz.: the statistics of labor, the productive arts of life, public instructions, etc. THE PLAN OF ORGANIZATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS, PROVIDING FOR THE Two MODES OF INCREASING AND DIFFUSING KNOWLEDGE. The act of Congress establishing the Institution contemplated the formation of a library and a museum; and the Board of Regents including these objects in the plan of organization, resolved to divide the income into two equal parts. the Institution a centre of bibliographical knowledge, whence the student may be directed to any work which he may require. It is believed that the collections in natural history will increase by donation as rapidly as the income of the Institution can make provision for their reception, and therefore it will seldom be necessary to purchase any articles of the kind. Attempts should be made to procure for the gallery of art casts of the most celebrated articles of ancient and modern sculpture. The arts may be encouraged by providing a room, free of expense, for the exhibition of the objects of the Art Union and other similar societies. A small appropriation should annually be made for models of antiquities, such as those of the remains of ancient temples, etc. The duty of the Secretary will be the general superintendence, with the advice of the Chancellor and other members of the establishment, of the literary and scientific operations of the Institution; to give to the Regents, annually, an account of all of the transactions; of the One part to be appropriated to increase and diffuse knowledge by means of pub-memoirs which have been received for lications and researches, agreeable to the scheme before given. The other part to be appropriated to the formation of a library and a collection of objects of nature and of art. These two plans are not incompatible with one another. publication; of the researches which have been made; and to edit, with the assistance of the Librarian, the publications of the Institution. The duty of the Assistant Secretary, acting as Librarian, will be to assist in taking charge of the collections, to select and purchase, under the direction of the Secretary, and a committee of the Board, To carry out the plan before described, a library will be required, consisting, 1st. Of a complete collection of the trans-books and catalogues, and to procure the actions and proceedings of all the learned societies in the world. 2d. Of the more important current periodical publications, and other works necessary in preparing the periodical reports. The Institution should make special collections, particularly of objects to verify its own publications. Also a collection of instruments of research in all branches of experimental science. With reference to the collection of books, other than those mentioned above, catalogues of all the different libraries in the United States should be procured, in order that the valuable books first purchased may be such as are not to be found in the United States. Also catalogues of memoirs, and of books in foreign libraries, and other materials, should be collected for rendering 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. The Secretary and his assistants, during the session of Congress, will be required to illustrate new discoveries in science, and to exhibit new objects of art; also distinguished individuals should be invited to give lectures on subjects of general interest. Chief Justice of the United States, the Vice-President of the United States, three members each of the United States Sen ate and House of Representatives, and Secretary and Director of the Institusix distinguished citizens. tion........ Chief clerk... ACTIVE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYÉS. Per Annum. .$4500 2500 1800 1200 Members ex officio of the Institution: The President of the United States. The Vice-President of the United States. The Chief Justice of the United States. The Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of the Interior, Postmaster-General, Attorney-General, and Commissioner of Patents. 1 clerk.......... COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. The Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries was authorized by act of Congress of February 9, 1871. The Commissioner is appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among the civil officers or employés of the Government, and must be a person of proved scientific and practical acquaintance with the fishes of the coast, and who must serve without additional salary. It is the duty of the Commissioner to prosecute investigations and inquiries on the subject of fish, with the view of ascertaining whether any and what diminution in number of the food-fishes of the coast and the lakes of the United States has taken place; and, if so, to what causes the same is due; and also whether any and what protective, prohibitory, or precautionary measures should be adopted in the premises. The Commissioner may take at all times from the waters of the sea-coast of the United States where the tide ebbs and flows, and also from the waters of the lakes, such fish or specimen thereof as may in his judgment, from time to time, he needful or proper for the conduct of his duties. 263 |