790 HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 



[The State Department to the Smithsonian Institntion.] 



Department of State, Washington, January 10, 1879. 

 Prof. Spencee, F. Baird, 



Secretary Sinithsonian Institution : 



Sir : Eeferring to my letter of the 14th of l!^ovember last, addressed 

 to you, in relation to the contemplated assimilation of the SmiJJisouian 

 system of international exchanges with the plan i^roposed by the inter- 

 national congress at Paris, I have now the pleasure to transmit here- 

 with copy of a recent dispatch from the United States minister at Paris, 

 inclosing a communication from Dr. William E. Johnston in answer to 

 the specific inquiries of the department. 



It appears from Dr. Johnston's report that no essential change has 

 been made in the plan proposed two years ago for the organization of 

 the international bureau and the conduct of the business of reciprocal 

 exchange. The " printed documents " referred to were received with a 

 letter from Dr. Johnston, dated March 15, 1876, and, being sent to the 

 Secretary of the Treasury, were, by that officer, referred to your prede- 

 cessor. Dr. Henry, whose reply, under date of May 4, 1876, has formed 

 the basis of the subsequent proceedings and instructions of this depart- 

 ment in the matter. For your convenience, however, I transmit here- 

 with the duplicate copy of the "projet de reglement " received from Dr. 

 Johnston. 



You are already aware of the desire of this department to secure to 

 the Smithsonian Institution, in event of its admission to the proposed 

 international system, the fullest liberty of action and the utmost en- 

 hancement of its utility, without entailing any additional burden on its 

 resources. It is thought that this can be accomplished without diffi- 

 culty. 



To that end, I will, however, thank you to make a careful review of 

 the whole subject, in the light of Dr. Johnston's last report, with a view 

 to determine the precise status of the Smithsonian as an international 

 bureau under the projected plan. I would suggest that a detailed mem- 

 orandum setting set forth the bases on which your co-operation could be 

 effected, on the plan of the circular of the ministry of public instruc- 

 tion and the fine arts which accompanied Dr. Johnston's letter of March 

 15, 1876, would be very serviceable for submission to the Paris con- 

 gress. 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



Wm. M. EvAets. 



llnclosure No. 1.] 



Legation of the United States, Paris, December 13, 1878. 



Hon. Wm. M. Evarts, 



Secretary of State : 

 Sir : Eeferring to your dispatch No. 107, of November 14, 1878, 1 have 

 the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a communication fjom Dr. AVill- 

 iam E. Johnston (with two documents annexed), which discusses and 



