118 REPORT ON EXCHANGES. 



secretary of Cape Colony asking that steps may be taken to establish 

 an exchange of publications between this Government and that colony. 

 In this connection I would suggest that it might be well to take into 

 consideration the practicability of extending the Smithsonian system 

 to all the British colonies, particularly those in Australia, some of which 

 have manifested a desire to establish exchanges by sending their pub- 

 lications to our Government through this Department. 



Adding that the publications referred to in Mr. Lowell's dispatch have 

 been forwarded to the Library of Congress, 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, ' 

 John Davis, 

 Acting Secretary. 



(Inclosure.) — From the Legation of the United States, London, August 22, 

 1883, to the Secretary of State. 



Sir : I have the honor to inform you that the agent general of the 

 Cape Colony, Africa, called at this legation yesterday, bringing with 

 him three large packages of public documents, which the authorities of 

 that colony desire to present to our Government, and which I shall re- 

 quest the dispatch agent here to transmit without delay to the Depart- 

 ment of State. 



The agent general at the same time placed in the hands of the lega- 

 tion a letter to him from the under colonial secretary at Cape Town, 

 a copy of which I inclose herewith. This letter expresses the desire of 

 the authorities of Cape Colony to establish with our Government a reg- 

 ular and mutual system of interchange of statistical and other publica- 

 tions emanating from or circulating under authority of Government De- 

 partments. It mentions that copies of the results of the census of 1880 

 and of the forms, books, and instructions made use of in that under- 

 taking, would be particularly interesting. 



It sems to me eminently desirable that the wishes of the authorities 

 of Cape Colony in this matter should be complied with. 



I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, 



J. R. Lowell. 



(Inclosure.) — From the Colonial Secretary's Office, Gape Town, May 22, 

 1883, to the Agent- General for the Gape Golony, I,ondon. 



Sir : The colonial secretary is very anxious to establish with the 

 Government of the United States of America a regular and mutual 

 system of interchange of statistical and other publications emanating 

 from or circulating under authority of Government Departments. 



2. With this object in view I had the honor last year, by Mr. Scanlan's 

 direction, to forward to your address under cover of letter No. 220 of the 

 23d September last, for transmission to the honorable the Secretary of 

 State, Washington, three copies of the Colonial Blue Book, 1881. 



3. Up to the present date the colonial secretary has not had the sat- 

 isfaction of receiving any reports or papers in return. 



