HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 709 



specimens of mineralogy for deposit in the cabinet of tlie National In- 

 stitution at Wasliiugtou, expressing the liope that such transmissions 

 may become frequent. 



In December, 1841, Dr. E. Foreman, of Baltimore, proposed to the 

 institution a plan for obtaining conchological specimens from all parts 

 of the country by a system of exchange. In pursuance of a resolution 

 of the institution adopted December 13, 184:1, a committee appointed 

 to propose a plan of exchanges reported February 14, 1842, first, "that 

 a system of exchanges is of very great importance in the accomplish- 

 ment of one of the primary objects for which the National Institution 

 has been declared to be formed, viz, the establishment of a national 

 museum of natural history," «&c.; and second, "that in exchanges of all 

 kinds the natural productions of our country shall first and always have a 

 decided preference. This method, while it recommends itself to us and 

 our interests, is calculated to extend benefits and encouragement to the 

 societies and naturalists of our country, who will thus have a central 

 depository, from which they may enlarge and vary their own collections; 

 and thus also in due time the duplicates of the exploring expedition 

 may with the greatest advantage be diffused throughout the land, there- 

 by fulfilling in the amplest manner the intentions of those who formed 

 that noble project, and justify the liberality of the government which 

 supported it." 



And the committee recommended : 



"1. That a system of exchanges be entered upon without delay. 



"2. That the curator and assistants be directed, for this purpose, to 

 separate all duplicates, except those from the exploring expedition; and 

 that they select and label such specimens as are to be sent to indi\'idu- 

 als or societies. 



"3. That the first step taken be to discharge the obligations of ex- 

 change already incurred by the institution. 



" 4. That a committee be appointed, to whom the curator shall submit 

 all sets of specimens thus set aside for any given exchanges, who shall 

 decide upon the equivalency before said specimens shall be boxed ux) 

 and sent off. 



" 3. That in all cases of diflBculty which may arise, reference must be 

 made to the i)resident or vice-president of the institution for decision, 

 who will, if they conceive it necessary, submit the question to the in- 

 stitution. 



" 6, That a book be kept by the curator, subject at all times to the 

 inspection of the committee, in which must be noted the contents of each 

 box or package, lists of the articles for which they are the equivalents, 

 the name and the i)lace of the society or individual to whom one set is 

 to be sent, and from whom the other has been received." 



In July, 1842, the institution adopted the name "National Institute." 



It will thus be seen that the eflbrts of the National Institute towards 

 the establishment of a system of exchanges were mainly intended to 



