HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 713 



scale, for nearly half a century, between the American Philosopliical 

 Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences on this side 

 of the Atlantic, and the several scientific societies on the other." 



Early in 1852 Professor Henry addressed a commnnication to the 

 vice-president of the Eoyal Society of London, ('ol. Edward Sabine, 

 "with a view of obtaining the iniinence and co-()i)eration of that distiii- 

 gnished body in the promotion of an unrestrained scientific interchange 

 between the two great English countries. 



This communication received a very prompt and favorable considera- 

 tion from that society, and the following ofiicial response was placed by 

 Professor Henry before the Board of Eegents at its meeting, May 1, 

 1852: 



Eoyal Society's Apartments, 

 Somerset House, London, March 19, 1852. 

 Prof. Joseph Henry: 



My Dear Sir : I duly communicated to the Earl of Eosse, president 

 of the Eoyal Society, your letter to me on the subjects of the inter- 

 change of scientific publications between the United States and this 

 country, and the admission into England, duty free, of scientific books 

 and memoirs presented to institutions or to individuals here, either 

 by or through the Smithsonian Institution. I accompanied this com- 

 munication by a letter addressed to the president, which you will read 

 in the inclosed printed minutes of the council of the Eoyal Society of 

 January 15, 1852. The subject has since been brought by the Earl of 

 Eosse under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, who have 

 shown, as might be expected, much readiness to meet in the same spirit 

 the liberal example which has been set by the United States, in ex- 

 empting from duty scientific books sent as presents from this country 

 to the Smithsonian Institution, and through that Institution to other 

 institutions and to individuals cultivating science in the United States. 

 The move which has been suggested b^^ our board of customs for admit- 

 ting, duty free, scientific publications designed for this country, and 

 which we hope will receive the approval of the treasury, is, that a list 

 should be furnished by the Eoyal Society of the names of all institu- 

 tions and individuals to whom such works may be expected to be ad- 

 dressed, when the custom-house officers will have directions to pass 

 without duty all such publications having the names of such institutions 

 or persons inscribed either on the cover or on the title-page, which are sent 

 to this country in packages directed to the Eoyal Society, the list to bo 

 amended or extended from time to time. The Eoyal Society will gladly 

 take charge of, and distribute under these regulations, the books which 

 the Smithsonian Institution may send for institutions and individuals 

 in this country, receiving them from the agent in London appointed by 

 the Smithsonian Institution; and I shall be obliged by your furnishing 

 ime, at your earliest convenience, with a list, as complete as you may 



