REPORT ON EXCHANGES. 63 



annually in every direction, aiultlie volumes sent in return by institutes 

 abroad are promptly and regularly received. This direct mode of ex- 

 change between the resi)ective corporations, institutes, &c., facilitates 

 not only the requirements in the most speedy and simi)le manner, but 

 tends also to reduce the expenses of transmission to the lowest possible 

 rate. The Imperial Ro^^al Ministryof Instruction would nevertheless be 

 ready to accept the proposal made by the American Government as far 

 as its department is concerned on condition that the exchange be not 

 extended to all publications made, but be confined to such as would 

 upon investigation be found to be the most acceptable and needed by 

 both parties, and that the number of copies to be sent would also be 

 made dependent upon this rule. With this view the Ministry of Foreign 

 Affairs begs to inclose herewith to the North American envoy a list 

 compiled by the Ministry of Instructioi), giving the i)ublicatious i)eriodi- 

 cally appearing under its direction, and requests that it be transmitted, 

 and that the number and the titles of the copies desired on the part of 

 America be pointed out. 



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs addresses itself at the same time to 

 the other departments interested in the exchange in <piestion, request- 

 ing them to make known their views on the subject, and to send in simi- 

 lar lists of periodicals published under their direction. 



As far as the i)ublications are concerned which have been offered by 

 America, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will first inform the different 

 departments of the receipt of the work published by Mr. Boehmer, en- 

 titled " History of the Smithsonian Exchanges," of which the author 

 had the kindness of placing several copies at the disposal of the Imperial 

 Eoyal Government, in connection with which it must be observed that 

 the list of ofQcial xVmeiican publications the work contains only reaches 

 as far back as the year 1881, which will probably make a supplement 

 necessary. 



The Ministiy of Foreign Aifairs begs to observe here that the Ministry 

 of Instruct ion regards it as a matter of course that this proposed new 

 arrangement will in no way affect or alter the exchange of i^ublications 

 kept up for a number of years heretofore with the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion. 



Finally, the ministry wishes to say that in case an agreement is maile 

 the publications inteiuled for ^Vustiia be forwarded by the American 

 Government to Vienna, (niniage paid, and that tlie Austrian consign- 

 ments be sent, carriage paid, to be delivered either at Leipsic or at 

 Washington, according to thiMlesire ol" the American Government. 



While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the honor of conveying 

 this intelligence to the knowledge ot the honorable North American 

 envoy, the undersigned embraces the opportunity to renew the assur- 

 ance of his i)rofouud consideration. 



