The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

FROM THE ENQUIRER.

The following plan; the production of as patriotic a heart as ever animated the councils of this country, is most earnestly recommended to the consideration of the public. Unless some such plan be adopted, many of the monuments of our history will be irretrievably lost; and our posterity will have to regret, that though we were assisted by the labors of the press, we suffered them to grope amidst the reproachful darkness of antiquity.

Plan of an American Historical, Political and Philosophical Society, for collecting, preserving, multiplying and encouraging memorials relative to the political, civil and natural history of the United States, and of America in general.

The object of the Society may be

1. To collect all the authentic histories, voyages, journals, memoirs, maps, and other memorials which have been published in Europe and America, relative to the discovery, settlement, establishment, progress and improvement of the several states, colonies, provinces and islands in America; including such as relate to the aboriginal inhabitants, their customs manners and character; and such also as relate to the geographical, topographical and natural history of the American continent and islands, with their respective productions and commerce. And to preserve the same in well bound books, methodically arranged, according to their respective subjects and dates, in a public library, to be established at the seat of the government of the United States.

2. To collect, preserve, and arrange in like manner, all the charters, constitutions, laws, journals and other memorials relative to the government, civil institutions, civil history, and military operations of the several colonies now forming the United States, antecedent to their separation from the crown of Great Britain, and from that period to the conclusion of the peace with that government in 1783: together with such essays and controversial writings as were published either in Europe or America at any time from the commencement of the dispute between the two countries, and all memoirs, manuscripts, and other memorials respecting the same that can now be procured or obtained, either in America or Europe.

3. To collect, preserve, and arrange in like manner, all the journals, acts, proceedings and propositions of the congress of the United States, and of the several states, respecting the former confederation, or the present constitution of the United States; and all the laws and acts of the government of the United States, and of the respective states, since the adoption of the Federal Constitution; and all reports, journals, speeches, controversial essays, and occasional or periodical publications, relative thereto, (including newspapers) which have heretofore appeared, or may hereafter appear, so far as the same can be collected.

4. To obtain a charter of incorporation, to erect a library and appoint a Librarian to arrange and keep the books, and to preserve them from decay, by having those bound which need it, &c. &c.

5. To choose a standing committee annually (of whom three at least should reside at the seat of government) whose charge it might be to select and publish annually or oftener, one or more volumes of a museum, printed in octavo and bound, in which extracts, abridgements, or entire copies of such of the collections of the society might be published, for the use of the members, and all other persons wishing to purchase them, as they may judge most important, interesting or curious. Each member of the society to receive one copy gratis.

6. The library to be open every day, Sundays excepted, for six hours, and all persons admitted therein gratis; and such as may choose to take copies or extracts from any of the books in the library, to be permitted to do so, gratis; but no book to be taken out of the library.

7. To publish a complete Catalogue of all the collections of the society, methodically arranged, annually. Copies of which to be furnished the members of the society, gratis.

8. That standing committees be appointed in the principal towns of every state, for the purpose of purchasing the objects of the institution within the state, in which they reside.

9. That this society from time to time reprint such scarce and valuable books, as they may think proper, and publish the same for the benefit of the fund--that the members be furnished with copies of such books at an under-rate.

10. That every person at the time of becoming a member, shall pay * dollars, and dollars per annum afterwards. And a treasurer appointed at the seat of government to collect and account for the same to the society.

11. That donations from Congress, from the state legislatures, or from individuals, either of money, books, or other objects of the society, be accepted, and suitable returns made of the publications of the society.

It is submitted with that sums it might be proper to fill up these blanks.