782 HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 



tweuty-two nations at the geograpliical congress at Paris in 1875, to 

 enter into relations with several committees already established abroad. 



The time has arrived for us to ask you that you will indicate precisely 

 ■what you are able to place at our disposal from among the publications 

 issued by your society since its foundation, be it from the stock on hand 

 or from future continuations of series, informing us of the number of 

 copies still at your disposal, as also their price. 



It is understood that the publications now issuing as well as the fol- 

 lowing numbers are to be furnished at the subscription price. In regard 

 to those of previous years we trust that, in consideration of the fact 

 that it would increase the number of subscribers for your publications, 

 you will settle ujion a moderate price, so that we may be able to accept 

 of it. 



At some future time when we shall have received from foreign coun- 

 tries catalogues of works we may procure from them we shall have the 

 honor of communicating it to you so that you may indicate which of 

 the works would be desirable for you. In the majority of cases we shall 

 make return in kind of what you have furnished us; but the amount 

 for those you will have asked of us and we furnished will be deducted 

 and your account will be settled every year. 



What we expect of your courtesy at present is the indication of the 

 material for exchange which we may procure from your society. 

 Accept, &c., &c. 



L. Alvin, President: 



Chas. Euelens, Secretary. 



[The Smithsonian Institution to the State Department.] 



Smithsonian Institution, June 3, 1878. 

 Hon. Wm. M. Evarts, 



Secretary of State : 



Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 

 May 15, inclosing a communication from W. E. Johnston, M. D., in ref- 

 erence to the subject of international exchanges between the United 

 States and France. 



In reply I beg to inform you that this Institution has been for a num- 

 ber of years charged by Congress with the duties of exchanging its offi- 

 cial publications and those of the various departments of the United 

 States Government for similar publications of foreign governments, 

 France among the number. 



This Institution has also for a still longer period maintained a much 

 more comi)rehensive and extended system of communication between 

 learned societies and specialists of the New World and those of the Old, 

 receiving serial and other publications from South and Central Amer- 

 ica, the West Indies, and the British provinces of jSforth Americii, as 

 well as those of the United States, and transmitting them through its 

 agents abroad. These, in turn, receiving any parcels from the countries 



