794 HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 



cases a matter of pecmiiary profit and not for tlie advancement of sci- 

 ence. Special exceptions will always be made in regard to applications 

 for the transmission of articles of the kind sent to any of the leading 

 public museums of the country. 



It will, of course, be understood by the Department, as previously 

 explained, that the exchange of government publications is directly in 

 the interest of the Library of Congress, and that all the works received 

 by the Smithsonian Institution itself are placed on deposit in the same 

 establishment. 



If, as suggested by the American minister to France, it becomes pos- 

 sible to send packages of international exchanges free by post, it will 

 greatly relieve the labor and responsibility of the work, permitting the 

 sendings to be made with much greater frequency. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



Spencer F. Bated, 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



[The Smithsonian Institution to the French Commission.] 



Smithsonian Institution, 

 Washington City, February 8, 1879. 

 Baron E. de Yatteville, 



Commisiiioner des ^changes Internationatix, Paris, France : 



Dear Sib: In addressing you in regard to the subject of the inter- 

 national exchange between the Smithsonian Institution and the bureau 

 under your direction, I write at much length, even at the risk of repeat- 

 ing the substance of previous letters, being desirous of making complete 

 and satisfactory arrangements for the future prosecution of this import- 

 ant work. 



As you are doubtless aware, the Smithsonian Institution has for many 

 years been engaged in the development of a system of international ex- 

 change, which is now very extensive and complete, and so far has been 

 conducted entirely at its expense, and not by appropriations of the 

 United States Government. The actual outlay amounts to more than 

 $10,000 a year, or to more than one-fourth of the entire Smithsonian 

 income. 



This exchange consists of two divisions : 



The one embracing exclusively the publications of the United States 

 Government, to be exchanged for corresponding publications of other 

 governments. 



The other consisting of the works of the various learned and scientific 

 societies and of scientific men. 



The system of government exchanges was initiated by the Smithson- 

 ian Institution in 18G7, at which time the inclosed circular was issued 

 by my i)redecessor. It was intended to embrace everything printed at 

 the expense of the United States Government, with the guarantee that 



