772 HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 



[7?!c7oswre.] 

 [Lord Derby to Mr. Pierrepont.] 



Foreign Office, March 1, 1877. 

 Hon. Edwards Pierrepont, &g.^ <&c., &c.: 



Sir : With reference to my letter of 31st of October last, I have the 

 honor to acquaint you that the proposal of the Smithsonian Institution 

 for an interchange of documents between the United States and this 

 country has been considered by the lords of Her Majesty's treasury, 

 and that they have informed me that they do not think it expedient 

 to agree to an unlimited and indiscriminate exchange of papers, the 

 greater part of which would be only of local and temporary interest. 



Arrangements have been made for the purchase for Her Majesty's 

 government of the Congressional documents issued from year to year, 

 which appear to include all that is required for the use of this depart- 

 ment. 



I have accordingly the honor to request that you will be so good as 

 to inform Professor Henry that Her Majesty is grateful for the offer 

 made by the Smithsonian Institution, but are not prepared to enter 

 into an arrangement for the unlimited interchange of documents sug- 

 gested in his letter to you of the 21st of July last. 



I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration. 

 Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, 



Derby. 



[Legation of Austria-Hungary to the Smithsonian Institution.] 



Saratoga, July 31, 1878. 

 Professor S. F. Baird, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution : 

 Sir. : In compliance with the wishes expressed by the imperial and royal 

 minister of finances, I have the honor to transmit you herewith for the 

 library of the Smithsonian Institution a complete file of the publications 

 concerning various projects of law, presented by the Austro-Hungarian 

 Government to the delegations of the Austro-Hungarian Empire dur- 

 ing the session December 3, 1877 — June 7, 1878, as well as of all the 

 resolutions adopted by the said delegations and sanctioned hereafter 

 by His Imperial and Eoyal Apostolic Majesty. 



Eeceive, sir, the assurances of my very distinguished consideration, 



Taverez, 

 ChargS d' Affaires of Austria-Hungary. 



Arrangements effected with most of the governments interested in 

 the system of exchanges have resulted in instructions to their respective 

 representatives in Washington to facilitate such operations officially ; 

 and accordingly their several consuls at New York and Baltimore now 

 act as forwarding agents. 



