16 



REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Louis (le Bebian, very generously agreed to carry the packages of ex- 

 cliauge both ways free of charge, thus relieving parties on either side 

 from a considerable burden, and greatly facilitating these operations. 



statistics of exchanges during the last ten years. 



\2, 602 



Comparative table of foreign institutions in correspondence ivith the Smithsonian Institution 



during the last ten years. 



Parcels received in 1880. 



For homo distribution 6, G70 



For distribution abroad 14, 175 



Total 20,845 



Government Document Exchange. — In addition to its general function of 

 intermediary between the institutions of the Kew World and the Old, 

 the Smithsonian Institution has been for some years the agent of the gov- 

 ernment for the exchange of public documents and other official publi- 

 cations, in the interest of the Library of Congress, and under tlie provi- 

 sions of law. By act of Congress, fifty copies of all publications of the 

 United States Government, whether ordered for the use of Congress or 

 of the departments, are available for distribution, under the direction 

 of the Joint Library Committee of the two Houses of Congress, to such 

 foreign governments as agree to make a corresponding return. These 

 returns, when received, are forwarded directly to the Library of Con- 



*In addition to tbe above there are 26 boxes ready for and awaiting shipment to 

 Italy. 

 tA detailed list will be found in the tables of statistics. 



