own foreign exchanges, by concentrating the work in one properly equipped and competent bureau. His opinions in this regard are shared by other members of the government, as will be seen on perusal of the annexed letter from the Secretary of the Interior in response to an inquiry lately addressed to him. Should the President decide to recommend the matter to the consideration of Congress, the Secretary of State has the honor to advise that an appropriation of $10,000 be asked for the coming fiscal year, in order that the proposed plan may have a fair chance to demonstrate its necessity and its benefits. It is prob able that the scattered expenses under the present system of separate exchanges aggregate a larger amount than that which he suggests as the limit of a serviceable appropriation.

Respectfully submitted.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

FRED'K T. FRELINGHUYSEN.

Washington, April 11, 1882.

[Inclosure No. 1.]

Mr. Baird to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,
Washington, D. C., March 12, 1882.

SIR: The letter from the Department of State of December 27 last, in reference to the future prosecution by the Smithsonian Institution of its system of international exchanges under the direction of the State Department, was duly received, but the reply has been deferred until a statement of all the circumstances connected with the initiation and carrying on of this work to the present time could be prepared. This statement I now have the honor to submit for your consideration.

The statement in question is prefaced by an account of the attempts made prior to 1850 in the direction of a system of exchange, both in the United States and elsewhere, and it also presents points of the history of the concerted effort toward an international system started in Europe in 1875, and now in operation with fair prospects of success.

From the document referred to it will also be seen that the Smithsonian Institution has for many years carried on single-handed and alone, so far as outside pecuniary aid is concerned, the most extensive system of exchange ever attempted. Origi nating in the transmission of the publications of the Institution, the Smithsonian exchange next included the publications of various learned societies of the United States; subsequently the exchanges of the government bureaus in Washington, and finally the international exchanges between the Congress of the United States and foreign governments. The cost to the Smithsonian fund of the maintenance of this system now amounts to about $10,000 a year, an expenditure the Institution is entirely unable to continue, and it becomes necessary therefore that operations in this department should hereafter be more confined to the immediate interests of the Institution, unless Congress shall vouchsafe its assistance.

Aid in connection with the exchange system is requested on the following grounds: (1.) The expenses of the exchanges by the Smithsonian Institution of its own publications should in equity be paid by the United States Government, for the reason that the proceeds of these exchanges (now forming a library of about 100,000 volumes) are all deposited in the Congressional Library as soon as received.

(2.) The system enables the several departments and bureaus of the government to obtain valuable materials for their respective libraries by exchange of their publications for those of corresponding departments and bureaus of other governments, and which publications can be obtained only through exchange.

(3.) The work of the Institution for the benefit of other establishments in this country is national in its character, tending greatly to advance general science and popular education.

Your predecessor in office, realizing this drain upon the resources of the Smithsonian, requested Congress for an appropriation of $7,000, which was the estimated cost of the work at the time; an allowance, however, of only $3,000 was granted. The money was placed in charge of the Interior Department, this disposition of it being made presumably at the instance of the Department of State and as an indication of

its preference to be relieved from further responsibility in the matter; and for this reason the Smithsonian Institution made direct application to Congress for an appropriation of $5,000 for the coming fiscal year. This estimate, though entirely below the sum requisite for carrying on the work, was submitted as more likely to be allowed than a larger amount. I trust that if the Department of State is willing to continue its efforts in connection with the exchanges, it will ask for at least $10,000 for the service. If it is desirable that the Smithsonian should also take charge of the government and other exchanges now passing through the State Department, a still larger sum will be required.

It will be entirely agreeable to the Smithsonian Institution to prosecute the exchange system under the general direction of the Department of State, and thereby secure the services of consuls or foreign ministers of the United States in those countries where national bureaus of exchange have not yet been established.

In conclusion I beg to remark that at no period in its history has the work of ex-
change been performed with greater efficiency than at the present time.
Commending the subject to your early and careful consideration,
I have, &c.,

[Inclosure No. 2.]

SPENCER F. BAIRD,

Secretary.

Mr. Kirkwood to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, March 27, 1882.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 24th instant touching the establishment of a bureau of international exchanges under the supervision of the Department of State, "the work of the bureau to be concentrated in the hands of the Smithsonian Institution, as the delegated agency of said department," and in reply to say that this department has long felt the need of some improved method of conducting international exchanges by which the more certain and speedy delivery of packages transmitted may be secured. The chief difficulties encountered under the present system result, in the first place, from the very limited number of dispatch agencies employed by the Department of State, restricting transmission of documents, &c., received from other departments and offices to the three cities, London, Paris, and Hamburg; and, secondly, from the delay which often attends the dispatch of packages through the Smithsonian Institution, many months frequently elapsing between the delivery of a package to the Institution and its reception abroad. In addition, the present systein involves the trouble of keeping accounts, and of the presentation and payment of bills for transportation, whether packages are transmitted by the Department of State or by the Smithsonian Institution.

It is understood that under the new system proposed by you, these difficulties will be avoided; that not only will it unify our system of international exchanges, and "assimilate it with that of other countries," but also that greater dispatch and certainty of delivery will be attained.

It is furthermore presumed that the appropriation to be made for this purpose will be adequate to meet the necessities of all the departments and offices of the government, so that they will be relieved of all expense in the matter of transportation. In view of the fact that the proposed arrangement seems to involve these advantages I regard it as entitled to the approval of this department.

I have, &c.,

S. J. KIRKWOOD.

REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE.

CONTENTS.

Letter of transmittal..
Preliminary statement

Plan of international exchange adopted by the Paris convention, January 29, 1876

Page.

CORRESPONDENCE.

May 2, 1876.-Letter of the Hon. B. H. Bristow, Secretary of the Treasury, com-
municating to Professor Henry the proposed plan of international exchange
promulgated by the Paris commission, January 25, 1876, and transmitted to him
by the Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State, under date 25th April, 1876...
May 4, 1876.-Letter from Professor Henry to Hon. B. H. Bristow, Secretary of
the Treasury, in reply to the Secretary's letter of 2d of May, 1876.
May 29, 1876.-Letter from the Hon. Hamilton Fish to Professor Joseph Henry,
inclosing note from Sir E. Thornton. British ambassador, of May 22, 1876, rela-
tive to the exchange of official publications between the governments of the
United States and Great Britain

Inclosure: Sir E. Thornton, British ambassador, to Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secre-
tary of State, relative to the exchange of official publications between the
governments of the United States and Great Britain.

June 2, 1876.-Letter from Professor Joseph Henry to Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State, "the Smithsonian Institution as agent of the United States Government"

March 1, 1877.-Letter of the Portugese commissioners to the President of the Belgium commission, announcing the appointment of a commission of international exchange for Portugal

Circular of the Belgium commission to the learned societies of Belgium.. March 23, 1877.-Letter from Hon. F. W. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State, to Professor Henry, regarding the subject of exchanges with the Government of Great Britain.

Inclosure: Letter from Edwards Pierrepoint, United States minister at London, to the Hon. H. Fish, Secretary of State, transmitting reply of Lord Derby relative to exchange of documents with Government of Great Britain, March 7, 1877 ..

Inclosure: Letter from Lord Derby to Hou. Edwards Pierrepoint, respecting the exchange of publications between the governments of Great Britain and the United States, March 1, 1877.

June 3, 1878.-Letter from Prof. S. F. Baird to State Department in relation to
the international exchange of works of science to be transmitted to Dr. John-
son, Paris

August 28, 1878.-Letter from F. W. Seward, acting Secretary of State, to Pro-
fessor Baird sending a partial report of Dr. Johnston as to the proceedings of
the Paris congress in relation to the subject of international exchange
Inclosure: Letter from Dr. Johnston to Hon. W. M. Evarts, Paris, August 5, 1878,
reporting on the proceedings of the Paris congress.
September 17, 1878.--Letter from S. F. Baird to Hon. W. M. Evarts, Secretary
of State, explaining efficiency of the system of exchange carried on by the
Smithsonian Institution, offering, however, should the Department of State
desire to assume the establishment of a government system, to lay the subject
before the board of regents

September 26, 1878-.Letter from W. M. Evarts, Secretary of State, to Professor
Baird, recognizing the Smithsonian Institution as the agent of the United
States Government for international exchange.

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16.

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October 30, 1878.-Letter from F. W. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State, to Professor Baird, transmitting copy of note received from minister of Portugal. Inclosure: Letter from Viscount Das Nogueiras, minister of Portugal, at Washington, dated October 19, 1878, announcing the appointment of a committee of exchanges in Lisbon

Inclosure: Declaration of the Portuguese Government relative to the establishment of a provisional commission of international exchanges, dated October 28, 1876..

November 7, 1878.-Letter from Professor Baird to Hon. W. M. Evarts, Secretary of State, expressing willingness on the part of the Smithsonian Institution to enter into any relation under a system of international exchange..... November 14, 1878.-Letter from W. M. Evarts, Secretary of State, to Professor Baird, expressing gratification at the willingness on the part of the Smithsonian Institution to enter into any practicable arrangement which may be made in furtherance of an extended international scheme of exchanges.. January 10, 1879.-Letter from W. M. Evarts to Professor Baird, requesting a careful review of the subject of exchanges and the preparation of a detailed memorandum setting forth the basis on which the co-operation of the Smithsonian Institution could be effected

Inclosure: Mr. Noyes, the minister at Paris, to Mr. Evarts, Secretary of State, dispatch No. 170, December 13, 1878..

Inclosure: "Projet de Reglement," referred to Paris, January, 1876 February 5, 1879.-Letter from Professor Baird to Hon. W. M. Evarts, Secretary of State, explaining method adopted by the Smithsonian Institution in exchanging with the French commission

February 8, 1879.-Letter from Professor Baird to Baron R. de Vatteville, commissioner of exchanges in Paris, respecting international exchanges between the Smithsonian Institution and the French commission February 8, 1879.-Letter from F. W. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State, to Professor Baird, transmitting

Inclosure: Letter from Edward A. Bond, principal librarian of the British Museum, dated January 25, to the Secretary of State, for the Government of the United States, thanking for donations of official publications sent through the Smithsonian Institution..

March 13, 1879.-Letter from Professor Baird to Mons. L. Alvin, president of the Belgium commission of exchanges, giving information respecting system of exchanges carried on by the Smithsonian Institution, inquired into by the commissioner in his letter of January 24, 1879..

May 16, 1880.-Letter of Dr. J. J. De Compos Da Costa de Medeiros y Albuquerque, announcing the formation, by the Emperor of Brazil, of a commission of international exchanges at Rio Janeiro, and sending the programme of organization and the instructions to the said commission.. June 17, 1880.-Letter from Hon. John Hay, acting Secretary of State, transmitting the following inclosures

Inclosure: Letter from Hon. G. Willamov, Russian charge d'affaires in Washington, announcing the appointment by the Emperor of Russia of a commission of exchanges in St. Petersburg and sending the..

Inclosure Regulations of the Russian commission for international exchange of works of science and arts

October 23, 1880.-Letter from Prof. Baird to Hon. W. M. Evarts, Secretary of State, requesting the recommendation to Congress of an appropriation to enable the Smithsonian Institution to carry on the system of exchanges in which it has been recognized as the agent of the United States Government. October 30, 1880.-Letter from W. M. Evarts, Secretary of State, to Professor Baird, expressing his willingness to apply to Congress for an appropriation for the purpose of carrying on a system of international exchanges.. January 31, 1881.-Letter from Hon. W. M. Evarts to Hon. Henry G. Davis, chairman of the Senate Appropriation Committee, asking for an appropriation to enable the Smithsonian Institution to carry out a system of international exchanges undertaken at the request of the Secretary of State.. December 27, 1881.-Letter from Hon. J. C. Bancroft Davis, acting Secretary of State, to Professor Baird, proposing an extension of the system of international exchange and requesting to be furnished with memorandum to serve as the basis of a communication to Congress, urging the appropriation of an amount sufficient to defray the expenses of international exchange.