HISTOKY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 797 



bauds of the resident minister of that country; or, in other words, that 

 the parcels from the Smithsonian Institution for your country are to he 

 turned over to the minister of Fmnce in Washington, and those for 

 the United States to the American minister in Paris. 



It is quite immaterial to us which method is preferred, although, as o 

 matter of business, we think the transmission can be made more direct 

 by ourselves to Kew York, and by you to Havre. Please advise us on 

 this head. 



Trusting that the length of this communication will be justified by 

 the desire to put on a proper basis so important a transaction as that of 

 the international exchange of the whole of America with the Eepublic of 

 France, 



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



Spencer F. Baird, 

 Secretary of Smithsonian Institution. 



[The State Departmeut to the Smithsonian Institution.] 



Department of State, Washington, February 8, 1879. 

 Professor Spencer F. Baird, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution: 

 Sir : I inclose herewith for your information a copy of a letter ad- 

 dressed to this department by the princiijal librarian of the British Mu- 

 seum, conveying the thanks of its trustees for the present in continua- 

 tion of former donations of certain public documents of the Government 

 of the United States, which were received through the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution. 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, 

 F. W. Seward, 

 Assistant Secretary. 



I Indosure.'\ 



British Museum, January 25, 1879. 



The Secretary or State, 



Government of the United States : 

 Sir : I am directed by the trnstees of the British Museum to acknowl- 

 edge the receipt through the Smithsonian Institution of the present 

 which the Government of the United States has been so good as to make 

 to them, in continuation of former donations, of the series of the reports 

 of the committees of the United States Senate, 1877-'78, Washington, 

 1878, 8vo., together with a collection of reports and other State papers, 

 referring to the aduiinistration of the Government in the United States, 

 dui'ing the years 1877-78. 



I am requested that you will be pleased to cause the expression of the 

 best thanks of the trustees of the British oMuseum to be conveyed to the 

 Government of the United States for this present, which constitutes an 

 addition of much interest to the national library of this country. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, 



Edward A. Bond, 

 Princijjal Librarian. 



