706 HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 



approved your idea ; and you are requested, sir, to present a prospectus 

 clearly setting forth, your plan for efiecting that object," 



[From M. Guizot, minister of pnblic instruction of France, December 31, 1835.] 



" I have examined with much attention the plan which you have sub- 

 mitted to me. The considerations adduced by you in support of this 

 plan api^ear to me to be of such a nature as to entitle them to attention ; 

 and I ardently desire that it may be possible for me to put it into exe- 

 cution." 



[From M. de Lamartrne, member of the Chamber of Depatiea of France, April 10, 



1836.] 



"Your plan for a general exchange of duplicates between all libraries 

 is excellent. It would aid us in completing our collections which are 

 already so rich ; but it would also have another and happier effect ; it 

 would introduce into France all the ideas of Europe, and would spread 

 through Europe all the ideas of France. Thus, by means of simple ex- 

 changes, this diffusion of information — the object of so many of our cares 

 and labors — will be effected." 



[From M. Eugene do Monglave, of the Historical Institute of France, March 12, 1836.] 



" Your idea, dear sir, is a grand and generous one, which ought to 

 succeed, and which every studious man should encourage by all means 

 in his power. The Chamber of Deputies has offered you its aid, and you 

 will doubtless also receive that of the Chamber of Peers." 



[From the Due de Broglio, minister of foreign affairs of France, June 12, 1835.] 



"The minister of foreign affairs has read, with great interest, the let- 

 ter which M. Vattemare has done him the honor to address to him, re- 

 specting the establishment of a system of exchanges between the differ- 

 ent libraries of Europe possessing several copies of the same works. 

 The usefulness of the labors undertaken by M. Vattemare, with the 

 view of facilitating such exchanges, seems to be unquestionable; and 

 the minister of foreign affairs will embrace the earliest occasion to speak 

 to his colleague, the minister of public Instruction, upon the plans 

 formed by M. Vattemare." 



[Extract from the speech of the Marquis de Laplace in the Chamber of Peers of 



France, March :50, 1836.] 



"I believe it to be the duty of our government to encourage and to 

 protect such an enterprise, and that it becomes France to take the lead 

 in a measure which may produce such desirable results. Such publicity 

 will draw out invaluable works, which are not sufiiciently appreciated 

 by their owners, from the dust of oblivion and from their obscure re- 

 treats. How many manuscripts thus buried and lost to the world may 

 be restored to light, and shall we not congratulate ourselves for having 

 made private interest contribute to so great a work ?" 



