APPENDIX.

REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES OF THE SMITHSONIAN

INSTITUTION.

INTRODUCTORY.

Sketch of early efforts in international exchange.

Before giving an account of the system of literary and scientific exchanges, organ ized and first carried into effect by the Smithsonian Institution in 1850, it may be appropriate, for indicating more clearly its precise character and importance, to briefly notice previous attempts in a similar direction. One of the earliest of such undertakings is thus set forth in a history of the Royal Library of France:

"In 1694 the Royal Library of France exchanged its duplicate volumes for new books printed in foreign countries. This kind of trade, authorized by the special order of the King (Louis XIV) and continued for several years, could not fail to supply the library with a very considerable accession of valuable books, especially from England and Germany. In 1697 one hundred and forty-nine Chinese books were received, in return for which the King gave a selection from all his engravings.' (Essai Historique sur la Bibliothèque du Roi.)

In our own country the American Philosophical Society, founded at Philadelphia in 1743, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, founded at Boston in 1780, commenced about the beginning of the present century a system of international exchange of their proceedings and transactions with those of foreign scientific societies. In 1832 M. Lichtenthaler, director of the Royal Library of Munich (Bavaria), in a letter dated January 22 of that year, addressed to M. Alexandre Vattemare, of Paris, referring to a conversation previously held between them, recalls the large number of duplicates in the Munich Library, and asks: "Would it not be possible, with your connections at Paris, to interest the Bureau of Fine Arts in adopting an exchange with our library?" This letter appears to have given Mr. Vattemare the impulse to enter upon the execution of a favorite project-the establishment of a system of library exchanges. He secured the approval of his plans, and in a measure promise of co-operation on the part of the King of Prussia (letter of Count Charles Briehl, director-general of the museum) and of the King of Denmark (letter of the scientist, Mr. Hank). At the court of St. Petersburg he was introduced by a letter of King Frederick William IV, of Prussia, to his sister, the Empress of Russia. In 1833 he came to Vienna and addressed the Count Maurice of Dietrichstein, director-general of the Imperial Museum, who replied, on the 6th of December, 1833, by letter, that the preparation of a catalogue of duplicates in the library would require more time than he could just then devote to the subject; but that, nevertheless, Mr. Vattemare might depend on his assistance, and he further expresses his belief that, through Mr. Vattemare's intervention, the library would be greatly benefited.

Ho had now received favorable consideration from a number of sovereigns and governments which were waiting for France to take the initiative. Knowing that in laying his propositions before his government he must be prepared to support them in an incontrovertible manner by facts, and possessing now official evidence of the favorable reception accorded them abroad, Mr. Vattemare returned to Paris in November, 1835. In his first petition to the two chambers he set forth the fact that "all the large establishments founded by the munificence of governments in the interest of science and arts, namely, museums, collections, galleries, and libraries, possessed, besides the treasures they displayed, many others, which by reason of their abundance were condemned to be useless. The duplicates formed this precious waste, which the savant, only with regret, buried in the dust of forgetfulness"; that "there was not one large city in Enrope which did not possess a considerable number of such duplicates. The library at Munich had 200,000; Jena, 12,000; St. Petersburg, 54,000; Vienna, more than 30,000, which includes a large number of these 'incurables,' which were hidden away in store-rooms. At Vienna 25,000 duplicates were encumbering the entomological section of the Brazilian museum. The attempt of enumeration would be imperfeet, for everywhere there would be discovered, in addition to those collections of books intended for study or exhibited as curiosities to the public, hidden collections, unknown libraries and museums, treasures lost to science and the world," &c.

The report on this petition to both chambers was made in March, 1836. The proposition was favorably received; two years, however, elapsed without any progress being made, the government being engrossed by political events.

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Mr. Vattemare, becoming impatient at the delay, resolved to go to England for the purpose of propagandism. He laid his project before the Marquis of Lansdowne in May, 1838, and succeeded in establishing an exchange with the British Museum.

After his return to Paris, Mr. Vattemare addressed a second petition to the chambers on February 2, 1839, in which he made statement of an important fact. He said: "For two years the system of exchanges of duplicates has been in operation to some extent. Austria, Prussia, and England have obtained important results, and the greater number of the duplicates at Vienna, Berlin, and Munich, of whose existence mention was made in my first petition, have enriched other libraries, and are lost to us.” Upon this the chambers seemed desirous of taking more effective measures, but the administration remaining inactive, matters remained at the same point as in 1836. At the suggestion of one of the deputies that it would be desirable to make also an arrangement for exchanges with the United States, Mr. Vattemare resolved to visit America. He left. Havre, October 20, 1839, and arrived at New York November 29, 1839. After some preliminary steps in New York he left for Louisiana. On the way he aroused the interest of the Société Royale Patriotique de la Havanne in the movement of establishing exchanges.

On the 26th of March, 1840, the legislature of Louisiana voted $3,000 for the collection of material for exchanges.

Mr. Vattemare then went to Albany, N. Y., where he arrived two days before the adjourning of the State legislature. He had a memoir presented to the senate, which approved the plan and voted an annual appropriation for the purpose of exchanges. Wherever Mr. Vattemare went his views were indorsed. On reaching Washington the session of Congress was nearing its end, and important measures were being considered. Many influential men assured Mr. Vattemare that the moment was not a propitious one for his cause, but he persevered in his efforts, which were finally crowned by success.

On June 5, 1840, in the Senate of the United States, Mr. Preston, chairman of the Committee on the Library, presented a favorable report on Mr. Vattemare's memorial, setting forth: "There are now in the possession of Congress many hundred volumes of public documents, some of which might well be distributed among friendly governments; and, for a like return, and at a very small expense, permanent provision might be made to supply them in future. As in this department of publication we probably exceed most foreign nations, the exchange would be equalized by receiving in return national works of science or art, which the more ample powers of other governments enable them to execute. Besides this not inconsiderable means of profitable exchange, Congress also has, occasionally, the disposition of duplicate books in the Library."

The committee's report concluded by recommending the passage of a joint resolution, authorizing such exchanges of duplicate volumes in the Congressional Library, and also of a limited number of public documents. The report also published several of the testimonials presented by Mr. Vattemare from distinguished persons.

[From his excellency Alexandre de Mordwinoff, St. Petersburg.]

"I have the honor to inform you that his majesty the Emperor, having been made acquainted with your proposition respecting the establishment of a system of general exchange of duplicates, has perfectly approved your idea; and you are requested, sir, to present a prospectus clearly setting forth your plan for effecting that object.” [From M. Guizot, then minister of public instruction of France, now ambassador in London, De

cember 31, 1835-]

"I have examined with much attention the plan which you have submitted to me. The considerations adduced by you in support of this plan appear to me to be of a nature such as to entitle them to attention; and I ardently desire that it may be possible for me to put it into execution."

[From M. de la Martine, member of the Chamber of Deputies of France, April 10, 1836.] "Your plan for a general exchange of duplicates between all libraries is excellent. It would aid us in completing our collections which are already so rich; but it would also have another and happier effect; it would introduce into France all the ideas of Europe, and would spread through Europe all the ideas of France. Thus, by means of simple exchanges, this diffusion of information-the object of so many of our cares and labors-will be effected.”

[From M. Eugene de Monglave, in the name of the Historical Institute of France, March 12, 1836.] “Your idea, dear sir, is a grand and generous one, which ought to succeed, and which every studions man should encourage by all means in his power. The chamber of deputies has offered you its aid, and you will doubtless also receive that of the chamber of peers."

[From the Duc de Broglie, then minister of foreign affairs of France, June 12, 1835.J "The minister of foreign affairs has read, with great interest, the letter which M. Vattemare has done him the honor to address to him, respecting the establishment of a system of exchanges between the different libraries of Europe possessing several copies of the same works. The usefulness of the labors undertaken by M. Vattemare, with the view of facilitating such exchanges, seems to be unquestionable; and the minister of foreign affairs will embrace the earliest occasion to speak to his colleague, the minister of public instruction, upon the plans formed by M. Vattemare." [Extracts from the speech of the Marquis de La Place in the Chamber of Peers of France, March 30, 1836.]

"I believe it to be the duty of our government to encourage and to protect such an enterprise, and that it becomes France to take the lead in a measure which may produce such desirable results. Such publicity will draw out invaluable works, which are not sufficiently appreciated by their owners, from the dust of oblivion and from their obscure retreats. How many manuscripts thus buried and lost to the world may be restored to light, and shall we not congratulate ourselves for having made private interest contribute to so great a work?”

NEW YORK, December 3, 1839.

DEAR SIR: The high and numerous attestations given to your plau of literary and scientific exchanges by the most eminent scholars and public men of Europe, and the eloquent manner in which several of them have stated its philanthropic objects and beneficial results, leave me little to say on those heads.

*

I admire the zeal and devotion with which you have applied yourself to the execution of this unpretending but beneficial plan.

With the warmest wishes for its success, I am your friend and servant,

Mr. ALEXANDRE VATTEMARE,

GULIAN C. VERPLANCK.

ALBANY, N. Y., May 7, 1840.

DEAR SIR: 1 regret extremely that engagements which require my departure for New York will prevent my having the pleasure of attending at the meeting to be held this evening for the consideration of your plan for a system of exchanges between governments and learned institutions, throughout the civilized world, of duplicate specimens in natural history and productions in literature. It is a noble and magnanimous scheme, worthy of the civilization of the age, and the advantages of which are so very obvious and striking that they must strike every intelligent mind at a single glance.

Wishing you the utmost success in your generous and philanthropic undertaking, I remain, very respectfully, your friend and servant,

ALEXANDRE VATTEMARE, esq.

WASHINGTON IRVING.

WASHINGTON, December 18, 1839.

I regard the subject of your memorial as highly interesting, useful, and important, and it will command my warm support.

With sentiments of respect and esteem, I am, sir, very sincerely, your most obedient servant,

Mr. ALEXANDRE VATTEMARE,

City of New York.

J. R. POINSETT.

In accordance with the recommendation of Mr. Preston's committee, the following art was passed by Congress July 20, 1810 (vol. V, Statutes at Large, p. 509):

JOINT RESOLUTION for the exchange of books and public documents for foreiga publications.

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Librarian, under the supervision of the Committee on the Library, be authorized to exchange such duplicates as may be in the Library for other books or works.

Second. That he be authorized in the same way to exchange documents.

Third. That hereafter fifty additional copies of the documents printed by order of either House be printed and bound for the purpose of exchange in foreign countries. Mr. Vattemare also visited Canada in 1841, and his mission was equally successful

there. In the summer of 1841 he returned to France and immediately presented a third petition to the chambers, referring to his success in America. The report of the Count of Montesquion to the Chamber of peers was sent back to the ministry of foreign affairs and public instruction, but no more was heard from it.

Now, however, Mr. Vattemare commenced the distribution of the objects entrusted to him for exchange. Some had their destination assigned them, but the distribution of the greater number was left to Mr. Vattemare's discretion. He transmitted the legaslative documents to the chamber, elementary books of education, &c., to the ministers of public instruction, &c.

The cities of Boston, New York, Baltimore, and Washington had presented certain works and documents to the city of Paris. On December 21, 1842, it was resolved to address a letter of thanks to the former and to send them books in exchange for those received from them.

Mr. Vattemare received from the chambers, departments, and those scientific institutions which had been included in his first distribution a great number of important works. He also made an appeal to savans, authors, and artists, which received some response.

The sendings to the United States had been gradually growing larger from the year 1842, and on the 1st of January, 1846, 6,000 volumes had passed between France and the United States. The following year their number reached 8,000.

Mr. Vattemare concluded to personally deliver a large amount of exchanges, and he started on May 10, 1847, with sixty-one boxes.

The custom-house charges at New York being very heavy, he addressed the Secre tary of the Treasury, explaining to him that the exchanges from the United States were allowed free entry in France, and in reply the same privilege was granted for the French exchanges.

During the second visit to the United States Mr. Vattemare was equally successful; he forwarded in the course of the year 1848 forty-eight cases to France.

On the 26th of June of the same year Congress charged the Library Committee with the nomination of an agent to conduct the operations of the exchanges between France and the United States. The committee unanimously designated Mr. Vattemare, who entered upon his duties July 25, 1848. It was also resolved that everything transmitted by this agent should be admitted in this country free of duty.

The French Government failing to give further support to the service of international exchanges, notwithstanding the renewed efforts of Mr. Vattemare, its operations ceased at his death, in 1864.

Another movement in our country to effect a system of exchanges (chiefly directed, however, to natural history specimens) was made by the "National Institution" organized at Washington, D. C., in May, 1840. Early in 1841 the institution addressed a circular to the principal scientific institutions of Europe, soliciting their correspondence. A letter to the corresponding secretary from Dr. H. G. Brown, professor in the university of Heidelberg, Germany, proposed, "if acceptable to you I offer an exchange of the petrifactions of your country for those of Germany and the neighboring Countries." In September, 1841, the United States consul at Lima, Peru, offered to the institution his valuable entomological collections. Almost simultaneously M. Dufresnoy, of the royal school of mines at Paris, wrote that he had delivered to Mr. D. B. Warden (formerly consul of the United States at Paris) a box of specimens of mineralogy for deposit in the cabinet of the National Institution at Washington, expressing the hope that such transmissions may become frequent.

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In December, 1841, Dr. E. Foreman, of Baltimore, proposed to the institution a plan for obtaining conchological specimens from all parts of the country by a system of er change. In pursuance of a resolution of the institution adopted December 13, 1841, a committee appointed to propose a plan of exchanges reported February 14, 1842, first, that a system of exchanges is of very great importance in the accomplishment of one of the primary objects for which the National Institution has been declared to be formed, viz, the establishment of a national museum of natural history," &c.; and second, that in exchanges of all kinds the natural productions of our country shall first and always have a decided preference. This method, while it recommends itself to us and our interests, is calculated to extend benefits and encouragement to the socie ties and naturalists of our country, who will thus have a central depository, from which they may enlarge and vary their own collections; and thus also in due time the duplicates of the exploring expedition may with the greatest advantage be dif fused throughout the land, thereby fulfilling, in the amplest manner, the intentions of those who project and justify the liberality of the government which sanctioned that noble project."

And the committee recommended:

"1. That a system of exchanges be entered upon without delay.

2. That the curator and assistants be directed, for this purpose, to separate all duplicates, except those from the exploring expedition; and that they select and Label such specimens as are to be sent to individuals or societies.

"3. That the first step taken be to discharge the obligations of exchange already incurred by the institution.

"4. That a committee be appointed, to whom the curator shall submit all sets of specimens thus set aside for any given exchanges, who shall decide upon the equivalency before said specimens shall be boxed up and sent off.

"3. That in all cases of difficulty which may arise, reference must be made to the president or vice-president of the institution for decision, who will, if they conceive it necessary, submit the question to the institution.

"6. That a book be kept by the curator, subject at all times to the inspection of the committee, in which must be noted the contents of each box or package, lists of the articles for which they are the equivalents, the name and the place of the society or individual to whom one set is to be sent, and from whom the other has been received." In July, 1842, the institution adopted the name "National Institute."

It will thus be seen that the efforts of the National Institute towards the establishment of a system of exchanges were mainly intended to enrich its cabinet of natural history, although the exchange of books was not excluded. In this way its museum obtained many valuable additions during the succeeding years, but the financial condition of the institute prohibited a vigorous execution of the system. Notwithstanding several appeals to Congress for aid, of which the last one was made on December 16, 1845, nothing was done toward giving the desired relief, and on the 25th of November, 1846, the following "notice to the members of the National Institute" was published, which will give a fair insight into its condition:

"A reference to the last memorial to Congress," which was presented to the Senate by the Hon. Lewis Cass and to the House of Representatives by the venerable John Quincy Adams, will afford the members some idea of the present condition of the National Institute. Notwithstanding that renewed appeal, Congress has again omitted to grant relief. More than a thousand boxes, barrels, trunks, &c., embracing collections of value and rarity in literature, in the arts, and in natural history, remain on hand unopened, the liberal contributions of members at home and abroad, of governments, of learned and scientific societies and institutions, of foreign countries and of our own, and of munificent friends and patrons in every part of the world. The worth, extent, and American interests of these collections may be understood, though imperfectly, by a perusal of the four bulletins which are now before the public. For the preservation, reception, and display of these the institute has neither funds nor a suitable depository. The usual meetings of the members have been suspended for a considerable period. Hence the regular proceedings have been interrupted, and hence the present volume (which has been published by the subscription of a few members and others, a subscription so limited as to have rendered it indispensably necessary to abridge the publication within the narrowest possible compass), instead of presenting in the usual form the proceedings of the institute, gives a mere and meagre abstract of a voluminous and valuable correspondence, and an imperfect account of donations and contributions to its library and cabinet."

And thus with the year 1846 virtually ceased the activity of the National Institute in that direction.

From this sketch it will be seen that the system introduced by the two early scientific institutions of our country had in view mainly the interchange of their own transactions for those of foreign societies, for their own benefit and extension of their own reputation, and that the system introduced in France had in view mainly the interchange among public libraries of their superfluous duplicates and of government publications. The Smithsonian Institution, commencing with the same method, at a very early date in its history inaugurated the original enterprise of furthering the mutual interchange of scientific transactions and publications throughout the world, without reference to any direct benefit to itself by reason of such exchanges.

SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES.

Among the definite lines of policy adopted by the Institution at the commencement of its operations was a diffusion of its publications, resulting in a system of exchange not limited to the distribution of unused duplicate volumes accumulated in libraries, but comprehending a full interchange of the intellectual products of the two hemispheres.

In the original "programme of organization" presented to the Board of Regents by Prof. Joseph Henry, December 8, 1847, this object was set forth, and in the explanations and illustrations of the programme the consideration was urged that the publications of a series of volumes of original memoirs would afford the Smithsonian Institution the most ready means of entering into friendly relations and correspondence with all the learned societies in the world and of enriching its library with their current transactions and proceedings.

A committee of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences appointed to consider the plan proposed for the organization of the Smithsonian Institution reported, December 7, 1847, on this feature, that—