REPORT ON EXCHANGES. 39 



In 1884 the subject was again taken up on occasion of my mission to 

 Europe, as described in the Sinithsouian Eeports for 1884 and 1885, but 

 no definite arrangement could be decided on. 



On the 14th of December the following letter was received by the 

 Smithsonian Institution : 



The chargS d'affaires of Austria Hungary to the Secretary of the Smithso 



niaii Institution. 



Washington, D. C, December 14, 1886. 

 Sib: Having been instructed to transmit to the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution a case which reached this legation yesterday, and which con- 

 tains thirty-four volumes (and one register) of stenographic reports 

 referring to the ninth session of both houses ot the Imperial Parliament, 

 I have the honor to inform you that said case shall be forwarded with 

 out delay to your address. 



Please to acknowledge the receipt of said publications, and accept, 

 sir, the renewed assurance of my high consideration. 

 Yours, very respectfully, 



Lippe-Weissenfels. 



The first advance toward the accomplishment of the proposition for 

 an exchange made by the United States having thus been made by the 

 Imperial Government in Vienna, it was decided to make an immediate 

 return in official publications of the United States Government, result- 

 ing in the following correspondence : 



The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to the consul-general of Aus- 

 tria-Hungary in New York. 



Washington, D. C, January 8, 1887 

 Sir: The Smithsonian Institution, on bebalfof the United States 

 Government, is about presenting to the Imperial Government at Vienna 

 a set of the United States official documents published since January 

 1, 1868, comprising twenty-five packing-boxes, with an approximate 

 bulk of 160 cubic feet, and an aggregate weight of about 6,000 pounds. 

 In this transaction we desire the Imperial Government to be at the 

 least possible expense, and we therefore propose to deliver the cases, 

 freight prepaid, at an Austrian sea-port easy of access to Vienna, such 

 as Trieste or Fiume, provided we could arrange for the shipment of the 

 lot by some sailing vessel bound direct for one of those ports. 



We are not cognizant of any regular sailing communication between 

 the United States and Austria, and therefore beg to request your kind 

 co-operation in the matter, by informing us of the existence of a regular 

 line plying between New York and one of the above-named Austrian 

 ports, or of the possibility of arranging with some Austrian vessel for 

 the shipment, at reasonable rates, of the lot of books mentioned, which 

 could be delivered in New York within forty-eight hours of any informa- 

 tion received. 



Very respectfully, 



Spencer F. Baird, 

 Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



