[ 108 ] 44 



The numbers of institutions refer only to those to which the Smithsonian 

 publications were sem. The remaining ninety have not been classified for 

 the present. 



In addition to the parcels themselves, circulars (two hundred and ninety- 

 one in number) were prepared for each address, and forwarded by mail. 

 These contained a full statement of the purposes and wishes of the Institu- 

 tion. In each was a lull invoice of everything sent, whether by the In- 

 stitution or by others, with information of the circumstances connected with 

 the transmission of the parcels. Although much of the matter of the cir- 

 culars was printed, still the laborof making out the invoices was very great, 

 involving, as it did in some instances, the writing of fifty, or even more, 

 titles of books in a single letter. 



As the import duty on books is much greater in England (han on the Con- 

 tinent, application was made by yourself to the British government, through 

 Sir Henry Bulwer, the British minister in Washington, for a remission of 

 duty on packages directed to such Institutions in England as were embraced 

 in the list of distribution which was enclosed to him. The ready assent 

 to the request, and order of free admission was of essential service, as per- 

 miting the addition of much more matter to these packages than would have 

 been possible had the duty of twelve shillings and six pence sterling per 

 hundred weight been exacted. The parcels sent abroad have all reached 

 their respective agents of distribution, and the great majority already ar- 

 rived at their final places of destination. Every foreign mail brings letters 

 of acknowledgement from institutions abroad for the donation, with expres- 

 sions of admiration for what they are pleased to terra the unexampled 

 liberality and magnificence of the enterprise. In this connexion it may be 

 proper to add that this Institution, as far as possible, transmits its packages, 

 with their accompanying letters, free of any cost to the recipient. 



The receipts of volumes from foreign institutions, in exchange for Smith- 

 sonian publications, have continued to be of great value. The report of last 

 year mentioned the following as the entire amount up to January 1, 1852 : 



Folio and quarto volumes 132 



Octavo " 138 



270 



Parts of volumes and tracts ^ -' 608 



878 . 



From January, 1851, to January, 1852 : 



Folio and quarto volumes -..-. 96 



Octavo 172 



267 



Parts of volumes and tracts •• 342 



609 



It may be well to mention that this does not include any returns made for 

 the volumes sent last summer, none having yet arrived on the 3] st of De- 

 cember, 1851. Nearly all those institutions which are mentioned in the 

 last report as having failed to make returns or agknowledgments, have since 

 done both. 



