762 HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 



[The U. S. Legation at China to the Smithsonian Institution.] 



Legation of the United States, Peking, April 17, 1868. 

 Prof. Joseph Henry, 



Secretary of Smithsonian Institution : 



Sir : A circular from you, dated May 16, 1867, respecting the best 

 method of carrying out the provisions of the law of Congress authoriz- 

 ing the exchange of United States official documents for those of other 

 countries, was received through the Department of State last year. It 

 was only recently, however, that I found a convenient opportunity of 

 ascertaining the views of the Chinese officials upon the proposal. The 

 inclosed correspondence exhibits their views, but in addition to the 

 statements made in my letter, the purposes, advantages, and results of 

 the exchange were personally explained to Tung Siun, the most learned 

 and literary member of the foreign office, whose name is perhaps 

 already known to you for his version into Chinese of Longfellow's Psalm 

 of Life. He entered into the plan with entire readiness, but stated that 

 its adoption rested with another department of government from the 

 one he belonged to, and might not therefore immediately be accepted. 



The Chinese Government has from time to time published or aided 

 works of value, but it issues nothing like our reports of departments, 

 nor has it any official organ for making known its operations, decrees, 

 or appointments. The Red Book, or quarterly official list of incumbents 

 in the civil and military service, and the Peking Gazette, are both al- 

 lowed to be published under its sanction by private persons, who never 

 add anything to the papers furnished them, but the Calendar is, so far 

 as I know, the only authorized publication issued by any branch of the 

 government. The three last Emperors have not equaled their prede- 

 cessors in their patronage of letters, and if an exchange of a suitable se- 

 lection of the books printed by order of Congress can, by and by, be made 

 for some of the statistical and political works of former monarchs, the 

 result would no doubt be mutually atlvantageous. 



The United Learning College, of which mention is made in th*e cor- 

 respondence, if it succeeds in carrying out the designs of its founders, 

 will, in a few years, educate natives who will be able to turn the infor. 

 mation given in our books to good account. At present, I do not think 

 that there are a score of Chinese in the whole country who are able to 

 fully understand them, but it is even more probable that there is not 

 half that number of persons in the United States (not including Chinese) 

 who could intelligently consult the works which this government might 

 send to you in exchange. It is perhaps best then not to press the sub- 

 ject at present. 



I am, sir, with esteem, 



Very respectfully your obedient servant, 

 S. Wells Williams. 



