HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 781 



Our commission, however, composed of the undersigned, and provided 

 with the necessary jiower by a decree of the ministry of foreign affairs, 

 and of which inclosed you will find the translation, held that it should 

 first address itself to the signers of the agreement of August 12, for the 

 purjiose of informing them of its organization and of requesting them 

 to furnish the necessary information which it needs for a proper dis- 

 charge of the duties with which it is intrusted. 



It is with a view to the accomplishment of this, for us so honorable, 

 mission, that we beg you, sir, to communicate to us the ideas and reso- 

 lutions of your government on this point; also, what steps should be 

 taken to establish promptly and surely the service of scientific, literary, 

 and art exchanges between Portugal and Belgium, on a permanent, offi- 

 cial, and as extensive a basis as possible. 



It is also our duty to inform you that the Portuguese Government has 

 instructed its representatives abroad to communicate to the govern- 

 ments to which they are accredited the establishment of our commis- 

 sion of international exchanges, and also the names of the members of 

 which it is composed. 



Accept, sir, the assurance of our most distinguished consideration. 



Marquis de Souza Holstein. 

 Jose Julio Rodriguez. 



[Circular of the Belgian commission to the learned societies of Belgium.] 



We have had the honor of explaining to you in a former circular, 

 which was addressed to you in 1873, that by royal decree of May 17, 

 1871, a commission was appointed charged with the organization of a 

 system of exchange between Belgium and foreign countries, of either 

 writings in every branch of intellectual activity or reproductions of 

 the principal monuments, or the most valimble objects in connection 

 with the graphic or j)lastic arts. The commission has been divided in 

 three sections ; the second, representing the interests of literature, 

 bibliography, and numismatics, has inaugurated its labors by the i)ub- 

 lication of a catalogue in which is contained a statement of all periodic 

 publications issued in Belgium by learned societies, the departments, 

 associations, and private individuals. In the preparation of this list 

 our section made use of the documents transmitted by you in answer 

 to the above-named circular. This list appeared in the course of the 

 year 1871under the titleof "Introduction to the bibliography of Belgium: 

 Brussels. Henry Manceaux." At the instance of our section the gov- 

 ernment has also accorded its patronage to the same publisher for a 

 bibliograijhy of Belgium. After having taken other steps with a view 

 to the comi)letion of its organization, our section has now finally been 

 placed in the position of commencing active operations. We have been 

 able, consequently, upon the agreement signed by the delegates of 



