APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 71 



D. — Copy of circular relative to exchanges of government doeumcnts. 



Smithsonian Institution, 

 Washington, U. S. A., May 16, 1867. 



A law has just been passed by the Congress of the United States authoriz- 

 ing the exchange, under direction of the Smithsonian Institution, of a certain 

 number of all United States official documents for the corresponding publica- 

 tions of other governments throughout the world ; the returns to be placed in 

 the national library at Washington. The works to be distributed under this 

 law will consist of reports and proceedings of Congress, messages of the Presi- 

 dent, annual reports and occasional publications of departments and bureaus, 

 &c., the whole relating to the legislation, jurisprudence, foreign relations, com- 

 merce, statistics, arts, manufactures, agriculture, geography, hydrography, &c., 

 of the United States, and including everything, of whatever nature, published, 

 either by direct order of Congress or by any of the departments of the govern- 

 ment. The series will embrace a large number of volumes each year, the most 

 of which are bound. 



The o1>ject of the law above mentioned is to procure for the use of the Con- 

 gress of the United States a complete series of the publications of other gov- 

 ei'nments, to include the documents of special bureaus or departments, as well 

 as the general publications, of whatever nature, printed at the public expense, 

 and also embracing all such works as are published by booksellers with the aid 

 of grants or subscriptions from governments. The law is not retrospective, 

 although it may cover some of the publications of the last session of Congress. 



Some time will necessarily elapse before the first transmissions can be made; 

 but in order to organize a phin of exchange, to be presented for consideration 

 to the Library Committee and the Jiln'arian of Congress, I beg leave to ask 

 your advice as to the best method of accomplishiniif the objects above stated. 

 It is important to ascertain what governments are willing to enter into the pro- 

 posed exchange, and whether any one bureau or branch of government or pub- 

 lic library in each country will undertake to collect all the national publica- 

 tions, as above mentioned, and transmit them to Washington, or whether sejm- 

 rate arrangements must be made with more than one office. The former plan 

 is considered preferable, as diminishing the labor involved, and may possibly 

 be adojited by enactment, as has been done by the United States. Whatever 

 method be most feasible, you will confer a favor by giving us such information 

 on these and other points as may serve for our guidance in further action. 



Information is also desired as to the titles and character of the regular offi- 

 cial publications of each country, and their average number and extent in each 

 year, as well as the names of the difierent bureaus or offices from which they 

 emanate. 



The Smithsonian Institution, in behalf of the Library of Congress, is pre- 

 pared t(j promise, if necessary, the dciivery of the above-mentioned publica- 

 tions free of charge for freight. It will also name an agent in each country 

 who \\\\\ receive the parcels or boxes containing the exchanges returned, and 

 transmit them to Washingtcm. 



Besides the exchange of complete series of national publications, the law of 

 Congress al)Ove stated authorizes the distribution of works on special subjects 

 to tliC different bureaus having them in charge, as finance, statistics, patents, 

 agriculture, &c., provided that copies of their publications be given in return. 

 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



JOSEPH HENRY, 

 Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



