^4 S. Mis. 53. 



of the Institution were previously sent. Besides donations from gor- 

 ernments and from public societies, we have received from individuals 

 many costly and valuable gifts. 



To Mr. Henry Stevens and Dr. J. G. FlCigel, our agents in London 

 and Leipsic, we are indebted for a large number of books and pam- 

 phlets, presented by themselves, or by others at their instance. Among 

 Mr. Stevens's donations are nearly one thousand pamphlets, roost of 

 them formerly belonging to Mr. Petty Vaughn, of London. Many of 

 these relate to American affairs, and are curious, rare, and important. 



Messrs. Meissner & Richter have presented, through Dr. Flugel, 

 a copy of Gailhabaud's DenhmUlcr dcr Bauhmist, in 4 volumes 4to., a 

 costly and copiously illustrated work. The publishers of Pierer's 

 Universal Lexicon have, at the suggestion of Dr. Fliigel, sent to us a 

 copy of the new edition, in 20 volumes 8vo. It is a sufficient evidence 

 of the merit of this work, that within six years from the completion of 

 the first edition it has passed through three editions in Germany. It 

 meets, better than any other work, the idea of a Universal Lexicon, to 

 which one may resort for concise and accurate accounts of every 

 subject in which he may be interested. Encyclopasdias have been 

 mostly devoted to elaborate treatises, rather than to brief explanations, 

 furnishing ready answers to the thousand questions which arise in 

 daily reading and study. 



The largest and most important of the gifts which we have received 

 from individuals is that from James Orchard HalHwell, esq., the 

 distinguished archaeologist. This gentleman has presented to the Insti- 

 tution an extremely curious, interesting, and instructive collection of 

 MS. bills, accounts, inventories, legal instruments, and other business 

 papers, extending from 1632 to 1792, neatly arranged and handsomely 

 bound in 54 volumes, mostly of folio size. This collection may justly be 

 said to be unique of its kind. It is of interest not only to the antiquary 

 and the collector of curious relics of olden times, but as an authentic 

 record of prices for more than IGO years it is of great value. As a 

 picture of the mode of life and domestic habits and expenses of 

 English families of former generations it is a most instructive record. 

 Its character cannot be better described than in the elegant letter of 

 presentation : 



Avenue Lodge, Brixton Hills, near London, 



28?A October, 1S52. 



Sir: I have the pleasure of offering for your acceptance, for the 

 use of the Smithsonian Institution, a collection of documents f()rmed for 

 the purpose of illustrating the history of prices between the years 1650 

 and 1750. The collection, regarded as a collection, is, I believe, 

 unique in its kind, although many manuscripts of the same description 

 are to be found dispersed amongst the vast stores of the British 

 Museum and other libraries in this country. It consists of about 

 seven thousand original papers, bound in fifty-four volumes, including 

 bills, accounts, and inventories, respecting commercial and domestic 

 articles of nearly every description. 



It will afford me very great pleasure if the allocation of these papers 

 at Washington prove of use at any time to tlie literary inquirers of 



