EEPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 23 



The following are the centers to which the Smithson invoices are 

 consigned : Lcipsic, care of Dr. Felix Flligel ; Loudon, care of William 

 Wesley; Paris, care of Gnstave Bo^sauge ; Amsterdam, care of Frederic 

 Miiller; Milan, care of L. dell' Acqua; Christiana, care of Professor 

 Hoist, of the University. The packages for Asia, Africa, and Oceanica 

 are principally sent through Loudon or the American Missionary- Socie- 

 ties. The invoices to South America are forwarded, through the gra- 

 tuitous services of Mr. Hillier, of the New York custom-house, by 

 regular trading vessels from that city. 



In 1SG7 a proposition was made to the Institution by the Librarian of 

 Congress relative to establishing and conducting a system of exchange 

 of official documents between the government of the United States and 

 that of other nations. In accordance with this, a circular was addressed 

 to the different governments having relations with the United States 

 for the purpose of ascertaining their views as to such an exchange. Jn 

 every case the proposition was regarded with favor, and at the ensuing 

 session of Congress an act was passed directing that fifty full sets of all 

 documents published at the Government Printing Office should be set 

 apart for the purpose in question, and appropriating a sufficient sum to 

 defray the necessary expenses. Unfortunately, however. Congress 

 neglected to direct the Public Printer to strike off the copies requisite 

 for this purpose, in addition to the regular number previously required 

 for the use of the government, and it was not until recently that the 

 necessary legislation was procured to remedy this omission. As soon 

 as the printing aud binding of the documents of the last session of 

 Congress are completed the proposed exchange will be initiated. In 

 anticipation of the receipt of the annual supply of the documents of 

 our government, several large packages containing documents of foreign 

 countries have been already received. 



On account of the large additions that have been made of late years 

 to the number of societies and other parties in correspondence with the 

 Institutiou, a new and revised edition of the list of the former became 

 necessary, and this was prepared during the last year. In order to 

 insure accuracy in the titles and localities of the various establish- 

 ments, proof-slips of the list were sent to the leading foreign societies 

 through our agents, and also to the diplomatic representatives in this 

 country. In all cases prompt attention was given to our request, and 

 many important corrections and suggestions were received. This list, 

 which now numbers 1,587 literary and scientific establishments, is not 

 only essential to the Institution in addressing its foreign packages, but 

 also, for a similar purpose, to the libraries and societies in different parts 

 of the United States, Canada, and South America. 



Library. — The works, which have been received from all i^arts of the 

 world in exchange for the publications of the Institution, after being 

 recorded are transferred to the National Library, agreeably to the 



