92 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



I therefore suggested that it would be preferable to send future Swiss con- 

 tributions direct to New York, prepaying freight thereon to that port in 

 the same manner as the Smithsonian sent this country's exchanges for 

 Switzerland to the port of Hamburg free of expense. Dr. Gurtner informed 

 me that there would be no objection to making this change, and I am 

 pleased to report that the new arrangement lias already gone into effect, 

 the last consignment from Bern being sent direct to New York. 



"The gracious compliance with my recjuests in other cities for copies of 

 their municipal publications was repeated in Bern, and the volumes which 

 I asked for are expected soon. The official publications of the Swiss Fed- 

 eration will, however, be delayed for a time on account of the fact that each 

 of the twenty-two cantons of which the confederation is composed retains, 

 by law, certain rights concerning the publication and distribution of official 

 documents and each cantonal council nmst act upon the request which will 

 be made to it from Bern. 



"Although the population of Switzerland is small in comparison with 

 some of the countries of Europe, it is relatively among the foremost 

 patrons of the International Exchange Service. 



"The French bureau has improved its methods so materially since my 

 visit to Paris in 1897, and especially so since the Secretary had an inter- 

 view with Monsieur Liard, chief of the libraries of France, last summer, 

 that I did n(jt think it advisable, or, in fact, necessary, to make any sug- 

 gestions to the director of the bureau. I called, however, as a matter of 

 courtesy. 



"Throughout my entire journey, wherever it was necessary for me to ask 

 the official assistance of the consular officers of the United States, and in 

 the case of my call at the embassy in Paris, I was, without exception, 

 offered every facility at the command of this Government's representatives 

 abroad to aid me in accomplishing the work prescribed in my official 

 instructions. 



"I returned to the Institution on August 28, having been absent from 

 Washington three months and fourteen days. 

 " Very respectfullv, yours, 



"W. I. Adams, Chief Clerk." 



"Mr. S. P. Langley, 



"Secretary, Smithsonian Institution." 



