800 HISTOEY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 



series of transactions of Belgian scientific institutions, it will hardly be 

 necessary for you to make any special effort to send this class of matter 

 excepting in response to applications for desiderata. 



The library of the Smithsonian Institution, constituting as it does a 

 portion of the National Library of the United States in Washington, 

 "we have the satisfaction of knowing that by the combination of the re- 

 sults of the exchanges with learned societies and with foreign gov- 

 ernments, we shall, in time, have under one roof, to a very important 

 degree, that ideal public establishment referred to in your pamphlet, 

 where the principal periodical and monographic works in science and 

 literature are to be found. 



I regret to say that the introduction to the bibliography of Belgium 

 for the years 1875 to 1878 is not in our possession. If it reached us it 

 has been mislaid, and we should be glad to have another copy. 



^ Should the Ij^^umismatic Society of Belgium send its publication to 

 the American Journal of Numismatics, in Philadelphia, through us, we 

 would see that tbe desired return is made. 



Eeferring to your letter of the 24:th of January, 1879, I beg to renew 

 the statement that the box of Belgian publications, mentioned as sent 

 on the 25th of May, 1878, has not yet come to hand. 



In the present communication you will find, I trust, the information 

 previously asked for; and I hope that with the explanations herein 

 made that the mutual relations of the Smithsonian Institution and of 

 the Belgian Exchange Commission will be put on a satisfactory basis, 

 and that hereafter there will be no interruption to a continued easy in- 

 tercourse. 



If we have not heretofore formally expressed ourselves to this effect, 

 we now beg to state that you are at liberty to address parcels through 

 the Smithsonian Institution in Washington to the Government of tbe 

 United States, and to learned societies, and to men in any part of 

 America. We will charge ourselves with the prompt delivery of such 

 packages addressed to Canada, Mexico, Chili, Cuba, Brazil, &c. 



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



Spencer F. Baird, 

 Secretary of Smithsonian Institution. 



[The Brazilian Commissiou to the Smithsonian Institution.] 

 CENTRAL BRAZILIAN COMMISSION OP INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. 



Office of the Secretary of State for Imperial Affairs, 



Eio de Janeiro, May IG, 1880. 

 To his excellency Prof. Spencer F. Baird, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution : 

 Illustrious Sir: Mr. Xavier Charmes, attach^ of the ministry of 

 public instruction and fine arts of France, and chief of the department 



