REPORT ON EXCHANGES. 45 



study and know better the United Slates and who wish to develop thoir own conn- 

 try by tlic arts of peace. I refer to the execution oi the ajfn'eincnt in Ir'OT between 

 Pern and the United States to exchange their respective («ovt;rnrnent publications. 



This system of international exchanges, authorized by an act of Congress, March 

 2, l'^()7, proposed to foreign nations, through the State Department, in a circnhir by 

 the Smithsonian Institution, May IG, 1867, was " accepted iu all of its terms" by a 

 decree of the President of Pern on 27th December, 18i)7. (See pages r)8 and .59 of "A 

 History of the Smithsonian Exchanges," by George H. Boehmer, from the Smith- 

 sonian Report for 1881.) 



Through causes too long to state in this letter the exchange witli Pern was imper- 

 fectly carried out, or not at all. Of course Peru, nnder any circumstances, would be 

 benehted by the exchange more than the United States; but it is precisely on this 

 account that I now beg to be allowed to ad<lres3 jou on the subject, because my ob- 

 ject is to request you to do Pern a great service, now needed more than at any time 

 before. 



It is known that one of the first acts of tlie Chilians when they occupied Lima in 

 1881 was to sack and destroy or carry away completely the whole of the old and 

 valuable library of Lima. The Peruvian Government in 1883 began to take steps to 

 form a new library, which has been created, having at present about 30,0U0 volumes, 

 mostly the gift of foreign governments and institutions and of literary men and 

 other private individuals. 



During Secretary Freliiighnysen's time I made some elforts to obtain a few works 

 of interest from this country, which in 1884 I presented to the new national library 

 of Lima. But most of the United States publications destined for Peru since 18ti8 

 are kept in deposit, packed up in boxes, in the Smithsonian Institution, awaiting the 

 order of your Government to be sent to the Peruvian Government, who will in return 

 send to the Smithsonian Institution, for the Library of Congress, a full set of the ofi&- 

 cial and other publications of Peru. 



As now, after many years of disorder, Peru has a regularly elected constitutional 

 government, the opportnnity to send the Smithsonian exchanges to Pern is most 

 admirable, and the benefit you will confer on Peru will be very great and will be 

 fully appreciated. 



On the <Jth of Angust, probably, a gentleman of New York, intimately connected 

 with the connuerce of Pern, and whose firm (that of Messrs. W. R. Grace & Co., Han- 

 over Square, New York) holds important contracts with the Peruvian Government, 

 leaves for Lima. During a very long time no opportnnity so good as this will pre- 

 sent itself to have the valuable Smithsonian collection sent to Peru. The books are 

 ready, packed up in about eighteen cases (measuring about 50 cubic feet), and con- 

 taining over 1,000 volumes. 



The United States Government would have no expense in this matter. As nsnal, 

 the Smithsonian Institution would forward the eases to New York, and Messrs. W. 

 R. Grace & Co. would attend to the shipping for account of the Peruvian Govern- 

 ment. 



I earnestly beg yon, Mr. Secretary, to let the books be sent at once to the Govern- 

 ment of Peru, as, going as they would, under the personal care of Mr. W. It. Grace, 

 they would arrive with the greatest safety. The Smithsonian Institution only awaits 

 your directions to forward the cases to New York. 

 Believe me, etc., 



J. F. Elmore. 



Pr-of. Spencer F. Baird to the Secretary of State. 



Washington, D. C, August 9, 1886. 

 Sir: Referring to your coiumiinicatioii of Au<jiist 2, in reply to a 

 letter from this Institution on the same subject, I beg to sny that your 

 suggestion with reference to the publications of the United States for 

 the Government of Peru has been favorably considered, and twenty 

 boxes containing the same are forwarded to the care of Messrs. (jrace 

 & Co., in Xew York, for shipment to Peru. 



1 have the honor to be, etc., S. F. Baird, 



Secretary. 



The Secretary of State to Prof. S. F. Baird. 



Washington, November 3, 1886. 

 Sir: I have to say, in furtlier reply to your letter of the 2d July last, 

 that the Peruvian Government is anxious to continue the arrangements 



