18 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



an engraver and electrotype copies are furnished at very small cost, 

 the expense being met by the applicant. 



Special Smithsonian correspon lent in Paris. — M. C. Reinwald & Co., 

 t."> rue des Saints Peres, Paris, were designated, on June 6, 1893, as 

 special correspondents of the S:nithsonian Institution, through whom 

 commissions can be conveniently attended to. 1 should add that no 

 compensation is attached to this agency. 



Russian Physico- Chemical Society. — I deem it not inappropriate 

 to give the following letter received June 29, 1892, from the Russian 

 Pkysico-< 'hemical Society : 



St. Petersburg, May 31, 1892. 

 Russian Phyisco- Chemical Society University 1<> the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution at Washington : 



The universal science reposes on the brotherhood of nations. The 

 United States of America in sending bread to the Russian people in 

 time of scarcity and need gave the most affecting instance of brotherly 

 feeling. The Russian chemists who devote themselves to the service of 

 universal science, at their meeting of the 7 19 of May decided to ask 

 their brethren of the Smithsonian Institute, to transmit the expression 

 of their sincere thanks to all persons or institutions who contributed 

 to the fulfillment of this brotherly aid. 



President 1). Mendeleeff. 

 Secretary D. Konowalow. 



A copy of this letter was communicated to the chairman of the Rus- 

 sian Famine Relief Committee and to the public press. 



Correspondence. — Minor changes have been made in the methods of 

 handling correspondence, with a view to disposing of all letters with 

 the greatest dispatch compatible with the character of the work, and 

 the number of clerks that can be assigned to such duties. During the 

 preceding year a plan was adopted of separating the tiles in the Secre- 

 tary's office according to the different branches of the work, inde- 

 pendent files being assigned to the Secretary's correspondence con- 

 cerning the Smithsonian routine proper, the observatory, the museum, 

 the park, etc.; and with each file, separate press-copy books. The 

 files have been designated as follows: 



1. Smithsonian proper. 



2. The National Museum. 



4. The Bureau of Ethnology. 



5. The Zoological Park. 



6. The Astro-physical Observatory. 

 11. Assistant in charge. 



20. Aerodynamics. 



25. Hodgkins fund. 

 A card index was begun on January 1, 1893, for both letters received 

 and letters written, to facilitate reference to the various files, and this 

 index will be extended back to all letters since January 1, 1892, as 

 opportunity offers. 



