HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 767 



convenience of the proposed exchanges, but inasmuch as an under- 

 standing should exist between us respecting the manner of verifying 

 them, I submit to your consideration the proposition that the Govern- 

 ment of Colombia should place the packages intended for remittance 

 by the library in the port of Santa Marta, Avhere they will be delivered 

 by the administrator of the national property to the person whom you 

 may be pleased to designate, and that the same national functionary 

 shall receive at that i)ort those which you may be so good as to send us. 

 Desiring that, uutil this be possible, there should be a general basis for 

 the exchange of publications, it seems to me equitable that this oflace 

 should deliver and receive in our own sea-ports. 



As a first remittance, I have the honor of dispatching a case contain- 

 ing 204 volumes, pamphlets, collections, &c., as will be found detailed 

 in the annexed catalogue. Of some of these publications it has not been 

 possible, for the moment, to send complete collections, but I have taken 

 a note of the numbers or deliveries which are wanting, in order that 

 they may be sent in subsequent remittances. 



This case is directed to Santa Marta, to the care of the administrator 

 of the national property. He will keep it in his own custody until you 

 shall be pleased to give instructions respecting the person to whom it 

 shall be delivered. For the next, I shall be guided by the directions 

 which you may think proper to communicate to me, but in the present 

 instance it seemed more convenient that you should directly instruct 

 the administrator {administrador de hacienda nacional) as to the disposal 

 of the case m question, with a view to save the time which would be lost 

 by an exchange of notes. 



It remains to be mentioned that a case, with like contents, is remitted, 

 at the same date with the above, for the national library at Washing- 

 ton ; so that the one in question is expressly destined for the Institution 

 over which you i)reside as Secretary. 



I am led to hope that the remittances will promptly be augmented, 

 both in number and importance; but the honor will still inure to me of 

 having exchanged with you the first notes on the inception of these 

 literary relations, an honor which I prize the more highly from its af- 

 fording me the occasion ofexpressing the respect and high consideration 

 with which I am 



Your very obedient servant, 

 Otava, 

 Librarian^ and Director of Exchanges. 



In October, 1874, four cases of documents were sent to the Govern- 

 ment of Ontario, Toronto; and in November, 1874, five cases to the 

 Parliamentary Library, Ottawa ; five cases to the Government of Japan, 

 and four cases to the Bibliothek des Deutschen Keichstag, Berlin. 



A number of boxes were also shipped to the agents of the Institution 

 in Europe, to be held by them for further instructions. 



